Authors comments:
Here it is, the conclusion to our JAG love story. Yes, Meg was the right woman for Harm, not Mac. So in this "other" reality of make believe, this is what should have happened. She was his perfect reflection, his complement, and he was hers. If you pay close attention to the stories of the first year on DVD, you can see, and feel, the connection Harm and Meg established. They did "play by the book" but I believe they would have eventually thrown that book away. Love is the most powerful force in any universe. You can ignore it, cast it away, and pretend it doesn't exist, but it eventually catches up with all of us. Love is what binds us, makes us complete, let's us know that we are separate human beings, and yet, we are all One.
Chapter 10
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
1130 Hours Local Time
Meg had been sitting at her desk for nearly two hours, doodling on a white legal pad, drawing numerous variations on the initials "H.R." It was now the sixth day from her birthday night at Rocky's and she and Harm had barely spoken. From eyewitness accounts from her co-conspirators, Harm had seen herself and Victor Galindez clutching each other and whispering those "sweet nothings" in Rocky's outdoor patio. Harriet had told her, "he looked so upset, I thought he would take on the whole bar." Getting the extra reaction she had hoped for had produced no results. Oddly, Harm was chipper and quite vibrant once they were back to work. The times they did communicate, he was cordial and upbeat. She was at a loss to understand his behavior. If he really loved her, why wasn't he forthright? Why wasn't he acting like she thought a jealous lover should? As she was drawing another H.R. she heard a knock on her door, which had been partial open. Before she could answer, Harm popped into view.
"Hi. The Admiral asked me to check on your progress with the Iowa incident." His expression was animated and buoyant. "Do you need any assistance? I'm all caught up at the moment."
"No thanks," she replied with an edge of annoyance, seeing him still cheerful. "I have sufficient evidence to acquit Seaman Cole of negligence. Care to bet me?"
Harm shook his head all around. "No-no. I'd probably lose."
"How are things going on Capital Hill? Is Congresswoman Lathem yielding to your persuasiveness and charm, like always." Meg's tone was aloof, almost icy, which made Harm smile inwardly. The best was yet to come he thought with eager anticipation.
"Congresswoman Lathem is a very determined woman, but sometimes she can be too focused on one issue and not see all sides or benefits." He rolled his eyes upward and grinned. "I think the Navy will come out a winner on this budget stalemate."
Meg hated to see him so smug and happy-go-lucky when he should have been confronting the Gunney with fists raised, in declaration of his love for her. "Does that include wining and dining Bobbi Lathem every night until you get your way." Her cold remark was more of conclusion rather than a question.
"No, but now that you mention it, I am wining and dining someone else. I'd like you to meet her." Harm turned toward the bullpen and motioned to someone Meg could not see. Seconds later, a mid twenty's female Navy Ensign appeared and stood next to Harm. She had bright hazel eyes and auburn colored hair, which was coiffed very stylishly, but to Meg's further dismay, she was also attractive.
"Meg, I'd like you to meet Tina Harris." He fell silent, waiting for Meg's reaction, which he hoped would be negative. He was not disappointed.
Meg was thunderstruck—she tried to speak but her vocal chords would not respond. Blood rushed to her head and made itself apparent by coloring her face with distinct pink blotches, and obvious sign to Harm that she was emotionally upset by this new development. She stared at Tina in disbelief, hoping she was imaginary. She felt numb and desensitized. "This isn't real," she pleaded inwardly. "This can't be happening—everything is falling apart."
"Hello Meg," spoke Tina shyly, as she extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to met you."
Meg noticed a slight austere grin from Tina that she immediately found distasteful. She jumped up from her chair with guns blazing.
"Is that how you address a superior officer, Ensign!" she snapped.
Ensign Harris genuflected into an attention posture quickly, her expression, serious. "No ma'am. Sorry ma'am." She saluted Meg, who returned the salute with increasing ire.
"Don't expect me to salute you," Harm interjected. "We are the same rank, as you have pointed out on many occasions." He was enjoying the moment much more than he anticipated. Meg was visibly shaken by the appearance of Tina, just had he had hoped—just as he had predicted.
Meg finally achieved a small sense of composure in her otherwise agitated state. "You're going out to lunch with this……Ensign," she spoke more amiably, "and then dinner tonight."
Harm grinned. "That's right, just like Tina and I did yesterday."
Meg realized her zealous reaction to Ensign Harris might have been too blatant. She managed a small smile, hoping Harm would think she was indifferent to his dating Tina. "Well, what a…..surprise. Where did you two meet?"
"On Capital Hill ma'am," chimed Tina as she gave Harm a delicious smile. "I was assigned to Harm—I mean Commander Rabb, by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. I work for the office of Financial Management."
Harm aimed an eye sparkling, amorous gaze at Tina. "Yes, Ensign Harris has been invaluable to me, both on duty and off." He laughed at Tina when her face turned crimson from what his remark implied.
Meg was far from being amused. The thought of Harm pulling one over on her to seek revenge never entered her mind. Her emotional response from this development had clouded her rational judgment so thoroughly; her only thoughts were of how to get rid of Ensign Harris, one being a transfer to a duty station in Alaska.
Tina aimed a flirtatious glance at Harm and grabbed his arm. "Hey Harm, we'd better go. I'm famished."
Meg crossed her arms and looked at Harm with unconcealed displeasure. "I suppose this will be another one of your infamous long lunches," she exclaimed irritably.
Harm ushered Tina out of the office, but turned toward Meg before leaving. "Probably—don't wait up for us." He left quickly with Tina, leaving Meg utterly confused, hurt, and engrossed with anger.
Harm and Tina's departure did not go unnoticed by Bud and Harriet Roberts. It was obvious to them that Commander Rabb was taking this female Ensign out to lunch. As the couple turned a hallway corner and departed from view, Harriet turned to see Meg standing in her office doorway looking quite upset. She meet her husbands gaze and they silent communicated one plan of action—who was the young woman engaging Commander Rabb's interest?
Meg strode back to her desk and glumly slumped into her chair. She sought to logically conclude why—if Harm was supposedly in love with her—he was messing around with a young Navy Ensign? But her feminine instincts and emotional distress overwhelmed any notion of rational thought. Who the hell was she? She turned on her laptop computer and started typing and surfing. Forty-five seconds later, she found the object of her search—the Navy record of Ensign Tina R. Harris. After two minutes of reading, she dejectedly close the page and logged out. What was the point? What was the point of anything now?
For the next five working days, Meg noticed Tina promptly arriving at JAG at seventeen-thirty hours in the afternoon, with her destination, Harm's office. Somehow, he was always ready to leave with her within seconds. Twice, she had left with him in his red Corvette. He had bragged to Bud, in casual conversation, that Tina was a great cook, better then himself. That night, she had planned an Asian stir-fry dinner for him at her place, and he was bringing the Saki. His dates with Tina, where they went, where they danced, always seemed to find Meg's ears.
Each succeeding day, Meg became more despondent and heartbroken. She thought of reviving her fling with the Gunney, but she concluded that Harm was now indifferent to her extracurricular activities. Commander Krennick was wrong—he was not in love with her. The pain of that thought alone was unbearable to experience, much less accept. Her love for him had not waned; she didn't think it ever could. He was her perfect love, her only love. No other man could ignite her passions with an intensity so strong and vibrant, just the joy of being near him was enough to inflame her desire to wrap herself around him and let her aura meld with his, creating a heavenly bliss where they could dwell forever as lovers and soul mates. She felt connected to him with a bond of love so unbreakable and real, she had never doubted its existence. And yet, she was losing him; she had driven him away. Her hope for a life of love with Harm was on the verge of complete collapse. Whatever dreams she had for a future with him were crumbling before her eyes, and she felt powerless to stop it.
It was eighteen-ten hours on Thursday afternoon, and Meg, at her office desk, had her face buried in her hands, vainly trying to hold back the tears that sought release on orders from her crushed heart. There was nothing left for her at JAG—she had to go. The thought of her continuing to work with Harm as lawyer partners only, without a personal relationship formed from love and commitment, was a pain her heart could not endure. She had to leave—there was no other way.
Two knocks on her door startled her from her despondency, causing her to flinch upward in alarm. She quickly wiped her wet eyes and did her best to appear presentable.
"Yes—enter," she spoke in a cracked voice.
Her office door opened and Admiral Chegwidden walked inside. Upon seeing Meg's red eyes, he immediately understood the reason.
"Am I catching you at a bad time Commander?" His face was permeated with concern.
Meg stood up with arms at her sides. "No sir. Please come in."
The Admiral slowly walked in front of her visitor's chair and sat. "At ease Commander. Please sit."
Meg complied and silently seated herself with her head bowed, her hands folded in her lap.
"I've been concerned over your unfamiliar behavior in this office for over a week."
"I'm okay sir," Meg replied softly, looking at him with an air of sadness she could not disguise.
Chegwidden was far from convinced. "No, I don't think you are alright. You are always the happiest, most cheerful person in this building. I've seen you with such a spring in your step, sometimes I think your head hits the ceiling. But lately, I've seen just the opposite." He leaned toward her. "Is there something you want to talk about that's troubling you."
Meg bit her lower lip and looked away. "No sir, it's personal."
"Meg, you know I have only your best interests at heart," he spoke with candor. "It's plain to see that you are hurting." He looked away for a moment and then spoke with more emotion. "Remember a few years back when I said you could come to me with concern or problem, if you were so indisposed."
Not meeting his eyes, Meg nodded, staying silent.
"That offer was given more as a friend than as your commanding officer, and I hope you consider me a friend."
His reassurance seemed to help ease Meg's melancholy. "Yes, you are my friend, sir….not only that, but I sometimes like to think of you….as a father….since I don't have one at the moment….no one I can talk to."
Chegwidden reached toward her and clasped her hand. "Meg, you can talk to me."
As if by the wave of a magic wand, Meg felt a sense of calmness engulf her. She looked upon him with gratitude and appreciation for the soothing feeling he emanated toward her, which she realized was genuine concern for her welfare.
"Thank-you sir," she replied, more upbeat. "I—I'm not sure what to say."
"It's our Mr. Rabb that has you feeling….not like yourself, isn't it." Unhappy at that thought, he squinted his eyes with visible anger. "I've seen him with that young Ensign a few times. What the hell does he think he's doing!"
"He's living his life, sir," said Meg contritely.
"Sure he is, but without you."
Meg rose her head in surprise and started at the Admiral with wide eyes. "What do you mean sir?"
"Listen to me Meg. You are an exceptional naval officer. The Commander Austin I know is also a woman of outstanding character and fortitude. She has never shied away from her duty to her country or compromised her convictions, and she would never back away from a cause she believed to be just and worth fighting for." The intensity of his intercession rose to a higher level as he gazed at her intently and compassionately.
"Now, I ask you—what are you willing to do to have Harmon Rabb in your life."
Meg realized there was no point in circumventing or falsifying the truth and depth of her feelings for Harm, which the Admiral seemed to have a keen awareness of anyway.
"I guess I haven't been subtle enough with my emotions. I apologize sir."
Chegwidden scoffed at that statement. "Don't be ridiculous. You are being human. I understand your feelings for Harm, and despite appearances, I know he is in love with you. That's the bottom line."
Meg was perplexed, but gratified at the Admiral's decision to allow their relationship the potential to develop, in the face of regulations. With his support now in play, her feelings of hopelessness were quickly evaporating. Whatever his reasons, she felt a new vitality toward her determination to be Harm's lover. She then remembered the Latin phrase written by Harm, which she still had not deciphered. She retrieved it and handed it to the Admiral.
"Sir, do you know what this means. I believe Harm wrote it, for me."
Chegwidden glanced at the words and grinned. "Omnia Vincit Amor," he exclaimed with an expression of comprehension. "Yes Meg, I do know what it means. There are a few definitions, but I believe the one most relevant to you is, "no one can resist love." He studied the words again—the intent of Harm's message was clear to him.
"Frankly, I think our Mr. Rabb cannot resist you my dear. I don't know what kind of game he is playing with that Ensign, but I intend to find out."
"No Admiral," she spoke confidently, with a new sense of purpose, "that won't be necessary. I can handle the situation….and Ensign Harris."
The Admiral had no doubt of her conviction on the matter. Noticing the about face in her demeanor, which was now chipper and upbeat., he stood up, with Meg doing the same.
"I like happy endings Commander," he spoke authoritatively. "I expect your relationship with Commander Rabb to have a happy ending—that's an order." He grinned at her and she responded by moving toward with the idea of hugging him.
"You can throw me in the brig sir, but I'm gonna give you a hug, not matter what." Meg threw her arms around the Admiral's neck and squeezed him tightly. He hugged her back, but with less intensity. When they released, he gave her another look of reassurance.
"I'll overlook it this time Commander," he extolled with a gleam in his eye.
"Thank-you sir, you've helped me....well....thank-you for everything," she replied emotionally. "I don't think I'd be where I am today without your support and encouragement."
Chegwidden gazed at Meg earnestly. "You've always had my support, but it's Commander Rabb who really is deserving of your praises. Do you follow my meaning Meg?"
Meg grinned in acknowledgment. "I do sir."
"Good. Now get back in there and give it all you've got, like the Commander Austin I've come to know and admire."
Meg smiled happily, feeling infinitely better about her situation with Harm. "Aye, aye sir."
Once the Admiral left her office, Meg immediately began to formulate her next blueprint of attack, which she knew had to be an about face in method from her last plan. Suddenly, a group of words coalesced in her mind that seemed perfect as a reply to the message Harm had written her. She hurriedly left her office and entered Harm's unnoticed because all other JAG personnel had left for the day. She found a legal tablet on his desk and began to write in Spanish, making sure the letters were bold, and hard to miss. When finished, she surveyed her handy work and grinned.
"No more schemes Harm," she spoke out loud with firm conviction, "it's nothing but the truth from now on, so help me God."
The next day, Meg spent the entire day in court raping up her case of marine Corporal Travis Hatfield, who had been charged with conduct unbecoming and willfully disobeying an order from a superior officer. Meg had proven that the order was in itself, unlawful and the corporal was provoked into his insubordinate behavior. Hatfield had been provoked into an altercation during his off duty hours by a Gunnery Sargent, who admitted under cross examination by Meg, was under orders to goad the Corporal from the base commander, a Colonel Jensen. It was Jensen's daughter Hatfield was seeing on the sly. The Colonel's half brother, a marine Major, had learned of the affair and took it upon himself to issue a series of ridiculous orders. His motives being purely selfish—career enhancement—he sought to break Hatfield, with the hope that he would eventually go AWOL. With all of the facts bought to bear, the jury found Hatfield innocent.
At sixteen-thirty one hours, Meg had only been her office for fifteen minutes, when she heard a single knock on her door. Tired from the long day, she was not in the mood for visitors. She knew it was not Harm—she was quite familiar with his method of making his presence known at her office door after four years. She reluctantly called out for the unseen person to enter. When the door opened, Meg was astonished when she beheld the uniformed female figure that entered her doorway. It was Navy Ensign Tina Harris, the last person Meg wanted to see. Ensign Harris walked up in front of Meg's desk, stood at attention, and saluted. Meg stood herself and returned the salute, gazing at the Ensign with a sour expression.
"Permission to speak with you ma'am," spoke Ensign Harris evenly.
"Aren't you a little early to meet Commander Rabb?" Meg was scowling.
"I'm not meeting Commander Rabb, ma'am. It's you I wish to speak to."
Meg was surprised by this admonition. "I can't imagine what you have to say to me Ensign."
"Ma'am, it's Commander Rabb I wish to speak to you about."
Meg suddenly recognized the opportunity to confront Ensign Harris about her designs on Harm. "Well so do I Ensign," replied Meg tersely. "I'm well aware that you and Commander Rabb are seeing each other socially. I don't know exactly what kind of relationship you have with--"
"That's what I want to talk to you about ma'am," interrupted Ensign Harris.
Meg moved around her desk and stood directly in front of the Ensign. Her body language was unmistakably a posture of defiance.
"Listen to me carefully Ensign. Whatever your relationship is with Harm, I would advise you to end it now because I also have a personal relationship the Commander, and I fully intend to cultivate our relationship. So, if you are in my way, I will run over you like an M1 Abrams tank. Harm is my man, and you can be damn sure, I will fight for him."
Ensign Harris was startled by the veracity of Meg's bold declaration, but inwardly, she began to fully understand the depth and intensity of Harm and Meg's feelings toward one another. Still at attention, she meet Meg's fierce stare with a detached, calm demeanor.
"I believe you would ma'am," she answered unemotionally.
Meg was far from finished. "And if things get ugly between us, I"ll do whatever is necessary, no matter how dirty it gets. Do you understand me Ensign!"
Ensign Harris smiled to herself over Meg's zealousness concerning Harm. It was quite obvious to her that Commander Austin was very much in love with him, and she had no doubt she would protect that relationship at any cost. Commander Austin certainly had nothing to worry about from her.
"Ma'am, I would respectfully request you do something for me. Can you ask Commander Rabb to come into your office. I know he is still here."
"I don't see the point Ensign. This is between you and me."
"Please ma'am," Ensign Harris urged, "it's okay. I just need to speak to you and Commander Rabb together, and then you will never see me again."
Meg frowned from the curious request, unsure of what stunt the Ensign was attempting to perpetrate, but she relented and walked to her intercom, buzzing Harm's office.
At that precise moment, Harm was studying a group of words, written in Spanish, that he obviously could not decipher. His first reaction was a feeling of immense gratification, thinking that she had deciphered his Latin phrase and was responded in kind. He grinned at the thought that for the four years they had been partners, there was an unspoken tete-tete between them that was always prevalent and in force when they were together. He looked at the words again:
SI NO TIENE AMOR EN SU CORAZON, ENTONCES NO TIENEN NADA.
Was there a special message she was conveying just for him in response to his message to her? The idea seemed likely, but what was the translation? He was about to leave his office to seek help from Bud Roberts, when his intercom buzzer lit-up and a very familiar female voice flushed outward from the speaker.
"Harm, it's Meg. Can I see you in my office, if you have a minute. It's.....important."
Surprised by this particular interruption and its timing, Harm leaned around his desk and pressed the button to answer.
"Sure Meg, I'll be right there."
As he left his office and walked the ten steps to Meg's, a hundred ideas popped into his brain as to why he was being summoned, none of which was remotely related to what he witnessed when he opened her office door. Waiting for him were two female Navy officers, one he expected to see, and the other, the last person he expected to see in Meg's office. Shocked, by what he hoped was an apparition, he vainly tried to hide his astonishment.
"Tina—I mean Ensign Harris," he spoke in wide eyed amazement. "What are you doing here? I thought our date is tomorrow night?"
Tina walked up to him and faced him squarely. "Sorry Harm, but I'm not going to see you anymore."
Caught of guard by what he could foresee as a tense situation, he quickly devised a plan to defuse a potentially unpleasant scene.
"Ahhh, don't you think we should discuss this in my office," he urged, taking Tina's arm with the intent of leading her away from Meg. He was met with firm resistance from Tina.
"No, this is concerning both you and Commander Austin," she replied adamantly. She turned towards Meg. "Permission to speak freely ma'am."
Meg had no idea what was going down, but she was intrigued to hear more. "Yes, go ahead."
"Thank-you ma'am." She spun around to face Harm again. He could sense something discerning about the way she looked at him, as if she had an awareness far beyond the escapades and drama of the last week.
"I like you Harm, you are a great guy. We've had some laughs, some fun times, but I'm not the type of girl that likes to play second fiddle to someone else who obviously has your affections."
"I don't know what you mean?" retorted Harm defensively. Inwardly, he was beginning to understand where this conversation was headed, but he still sought to play the innocent.
"Oh Harm, let's not dance around the issue," Tina exclaimed with a grin. "You are currently in a relationship with Commander Austin."
Harm's eyes widened. "Commander Austin and myself are good friends and professional colleagues. If I were in a relationship with her, why would I be going out with you."
Tina aimed a impish grin his way. "Good question." She gave Meg a look of reassurance. "I think I can answer that. It took me a little while, but I finally figured it out. You went out with me to make Commander Austin jealous."
Harm's male ego subdued what his true inner self was crying out to say. He found himself speaking in a reactionary mode, rather than from his true inner feelings. "That's preposterous," he rebutted with vigor.
"Oh no?" Tina exclaimed with surprise. She turned to Meg and addressed her directly. "Commander, every time Harm and I went out, his preferred topic of conversation was you. All I heard was.....Meg is so sweet.....Meg is so brave.....what a great lawyer she's become.....on and on—every date. He just can't stop gushing about you. It's you he should be dating ma'am, not me." Tina then aimed her diatribe at Harm. "And as for you, sir, I was quite excited to find such a handsome, charming man show an interest in me, but I don't appreciate someone playing with my emotions. You are a good man Harm, one of the best, and I actually thought that I had a chance to be your girlfriend. But someone else has already filled that position, and that woman is Commander Austin."
Caught up in the histrionics of the moment, Harm found himself declaring another rebuttal before he could find the right words that he hoped would come from his heart.
"Meg is not my girlfriend, and I repeat, our relationship......" He stopped himself in mid sentence, horrified at what he had just spoken. When he glanced at Meg, he felt an emotional upheaval of remorse and guilt so intense and consuming, he could barely contain the anguish that sought release from his insensitivity. Meg looked at him with sad, swollen eyes, her face could not hide the pain of rejection or the fact that her heart was being crushed into a splattering of broken dreams. To see the hurt, the emotional distress she was exhuming was more than he could ever bare. At that moment, he vowed to never hurt her again.
Harm sheepishly looked at the floor, embarrassed, by what he admitted was callous and untruthful behavior. When he spoke, his voice was much softer and contrite.
"No.....that's not true...." When his eyes locked onto Meg's, she gasped when she noticed his eyes were just has red and teary as her own. A tumultuous wave of emotion swept through her being, feelings of sadness and despair were being overrun and cast aside by sensations of hope and love.
Similar feelings were generating within Harm. As a dam busting open, he finally felt free to let his heart emit every bottled-up emotion he held under lock and key. Like a radiant sun, he was eager to let his warmth engulf Meg with all of the love he had withheld from her for far too long.
"I am in a relationship with Commander—Meg Austin," he continued in a voice chocked with emotion. He smiled at her warmly. "I am her boyfriend."
Meg was at a loss of what to do next—faint or rush into his arms and kiss him. She wiped her wet eyes and returned his smile with a bright, flashing smile of her own.
Tina walked to the office door, grabbing the doorknob, and turned to Harm and Meg. "Well, that's out in the open," she exclaimed with apparent tone of relief. She snapped to attention and saluted. "Good luck to both of you." She looked wistfully at Harm and sighed. "If only we had met under different circumstances, it would have been fabulous."
Meg cleared her throat loudly. "That will be all Ensign," she said lightheartedly.
Tina gave Meg a nod of support. "Aye, aye ma'am."
She exited Meg's office with a expression of satisfaction. She was keenly aware that things had turned out as they were meant to. As she walked past the desk of Harriet Roberts, Tina gave her a thumbs-up signal, which Harriet acknowledged with a happy grin. Her husband Bud was close by, anxious to witness the outcome for himself. Harriet flashed him the high thumb of success. He reacted by clenching his fist and swinging his arm across his chest, exclaiming a gruff "YES" in reaction to the good news.
For several seconds, Harm and Meg stood in frozen in place, each attempting to fathom what had just occurred, and what to do next. Meg was about to move toward him, when he unexpectedly collapsed to his knees, his body slumping into a limp, disheveled posture. She immediately rushed to him and came down to his level, on her knees. His head was bowed low, his shoulders drooping. Meg reached out to him, clutching his left upper arm.
"Harm! What is it? What's wrong?" Her voice was laced with worry.
Slowly, he rose his head and met her eyes. He seemed emotionally distraught, which surprised Meg even more.
"Look what I've done," he spoke deliberately, almost painfully. "Look what I almost did to you....to us." His face was etched with the unmistakable visage of sorrow and remorse. A strong wave of empathy toward Harm engulfed Meg—she wanted to hold him forever and never let go. Once more, tears formed and trickled down her cheeks as she sought to understand is frame of mind. She had never seen Harm so emotionally troubled.
"Harm—please. Don't do this!" she implored as she took a firm hold on both his shoulders.
He felt like crawling under a rock and not leaving, as a penance for the heart he refused to listen to, for the many years he now felt were wasted due to his selfishness and self-interest.
"I have been such a fool....and an idiot." he spoke humbly, as he searched her face for any hint of compassion and tenderness, which he felt he didn't deserve. "You have been there for me......since the beginning....and I knew it.....I sensed your feelings for me.....but I refused let you into my life. I wanted it.....disparately....I wanted you, but I let the Navy rule my life....and I was also afraid." He looked deeply into her eyes seeking a sign of forgiveness he felt he needed to purge his soul.
"I've been driving you away...and that's not what I wanted." He edged closer to her, putting his arms around her waist. Meg wrapped her arms around his neck and moved closer as well, until her knees touched his.
"I have wanted you for so long," he said ardently, his face showing the essence of sincerity. "But I thought I wanted a naval career more.....no entanglements.....no detours or distractions. And then you came into my life and my feelings for you kept growing. I tried to deny those feelings.....to bury them, but now....." He raised her right hand and brushed her cheek, wiping away a trickling tear. "I will not deny my feelings any longer. "Whatever hurt I have caused you....whatever self denial I had chosen to cling to....it ends now."
Meg hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek against his. "Oh Harm, let's not dwell on what we did to each other in the past," she responded fervently in a whisper. "Let's concentrate on the here and now."
She moved her head backward and gazed at him happily. "Besides, I want to hear more about this, "she's my girlfriend," stuff."
He smiled back. "It's true, if you want the job."
Meg feigned a look of deep thought. "Hummmm.....only if you consider applying for my job opening of serious boyfriend."
Harm chuckled. It was just another reason why he loved her—her sense of humor and spontaneity had always captivated him. At that moment, he had an overwhelming desire to kiss her passionately. He grinned at her with dancing eyes.
"Where do I sign." he laughed. "I hope it is a binding contract because I won't sign anything else."
Meg was crazy to kiss him. "Oh, it is. Unbreakable and iron clad. It will hold up in any court."
"Good. Then I suggest we seal the deal." He pulled her snuggly against him. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders like a hungry python.
"You read my mind....again," she said seductively as they moved together to embrace in a steamy kiss. They didn't care they were on their knees in a JAG office, kissing and holding each other with such urgency and desire, they became lost in passions long withheld, but now ready to explode and develop completely and naturally. When they broke their long kiss, Meg looked at Harm with a frowning expression.
"Harm, there's just one thing that seems odd." They were still holding each other tightly, their faces inches apart.
"What's that?" he replied inquisitively.
Meg grinned. "Well, we're calling ourselves a couple and we've never been on a real date."
Harm's eyes widened. "You're right. I think we should rectify that tonight." He let one hand slide seductively down her back until it rested just above her rear.
Meg's face brightened in eagerness. "I'll be ready at seven."
Bud Roberts walked up to his wife's desk carrying his briefcase. "Let's go Harriet. They're not coming out anytime soon."
Harriet looked at Meg's door and sighed. "Isn't it romantic? Finally, they're together."
Bud frowned. "We don't know that for sure."
"Oh really?" Harriet retorted assuredly.. "What do you think they're doing, playing checkers?"
Bud relented. "Okay—okay. But let's go home. We'll hear about it soon enough."
Meg's office door opened and a grinning Harmon Rabb skipped into the bullpen, headed toward his office. He happened to glance to his right and beheld the figures of Lieutenant's Bud and Harriet Roberts staring at him with inquiring "well-what-happened-looks." Thinking Harm was not about to volunteer any information, Harriet jumped into the fray.
"Commander, is everything okay.....I mean is Commander Austin okay?" She stopped—lost for words.
Harm caught on quickly. "Harriet—Bud. Everything is great. In fact it's wonderful."
A second later, like a bullet exiting an M-16, Meg shot out of her office, and in her exuberance, nearly ran over Harm. They clutched each other to keep from losing their balance. Catching her breath, she chuckled at the collision that was narrowly avoided.
"Harm—darling. I didn't see you there." She exhumed a long winded breath of relief, still clutching him. Harm cleared his throat roughly.
Meg's smile evaporated instantly. "Oh no! That didn't sound good. Don't tell me your getting sick. Not tonight!"
Harm repeated his throat warning, this time, jerking his head in the direction of Bud and Harriet. Meg sheepishly turned that way and saw the naval husband and wife staring back at her and Harm with an "all knowing" appearance. Meg clenched her teeth and said an "oh—oh" under her breath. She quickly released her grip on him, and moved backward in embarrassment. Bud was quick to the defensive of all concerned. He walked up to them and extended his hand.
"Commanders, it's good to see you.....together," he beamed. Harriet Roberts was soon at his side.
Harm frowned. "Bud, Meg and I have been together for over four years, as partners."
"Yes sir, but I mean....ahhh....you're together now...I mean...more together....rather than further apart then before....not that you were apart.....ever....we just know that things are.....good....and you're closer than before....not that you were ever....not close..."
Harriet sighed heavily in exasperation, having to hear another bumbling diatribe from her husband who never failed to vocally fumble around at the most inopportune moments.
"What he's trying to say Commanders is that we are just happy, for you both."
For a split second, Meg thought Harm would evade or deny the inference, but he extended his arm to her and she happily moved toward him, his arm wrapping snuggly around her. He radiated a luminous smile at her, its warmth making her tingle.
"Thank-you Harriet and Bud," Harm responded with his patented wide toothy smile. "We have to run. Meg and I have a million things to do.....well, I have—maybe five things, and she has a million."
"I understand," replied Harriet contently. "Have a fun evening."
Meg tugged at Harms uniform sleeve. "Let's go Harm," Meg urged with impatience. "I think my number is up to two million by now."
"Aye, aye ma'am," he said in a jesting manner. They exited quickly to the elevator, holding hands since most of the personnel had left for the day. Once the elevator doors opened and they entered, they rushed into each others arms. Meg looked dreamily into his eyes.
"Do you think they know," she asked, her cheek rubbing against his.
"They've known all along—others too."
Meg kissed his cheek and moved her face in line with his. She nodded in understanding and they kissed. They were still in an embrace when they elevator door opened and an older, balding Navy Admiral beheld a sight he had not expected to see in that particular space. Harm and Meg instantly broke apart on snapped to attention, with eyes front, infinitely embarrassed. The Admiral wanted to laugh, but he fought the urge. Why not make them squirm, just a little.
"I've heard of lawyers co-oberating on cases and investigations, but I believe you two Commanders have just given the term "law partnership" a new meaning." He stepped backward to make room. "Would you two please step out of the elevator."
Harm and Meg complied and stood in front of the Admiral, straight as arrows. They both knew Admiral Chegwidden was at times unpredictable and vengeful, if provoked by actions not meeting his high standards of naval excellence.
Chegwidden looked at them sternly, giving the impression he was quite cross, when in reality, the opposite was true. "I know I wear reading glasses, when I read, but not when I'm looking inside an elevator." He stepped up closer. "Now, did I just see what I just saw?"
Harm knew there was no escape. He stood his ground. "You did sir."
Chegwidden glided over to Meg. "Do you concur with Commander Rabb, or was this a mirage, or an illusion? Maybe you two were rehearsing for a play."
For an instant, Meg thought about latching on the the "play rehearsal" excuse, but she knew it wouldn't fly. She was confident of the outcome—at least hopefully.
"I concur with Commander Rabb, sir," she replied staunchly.
The Admiral relaxed his posture and turned sideways. "I hope you two understand that this is place of business and this is still the military, last time I checked."
Harm and Meg answered simultaneously and in perfect sinc. "We do sir!"
He faced them with a look of consternation. "And I expect you two Commanders to adhere to the protocols of your office."
Harm and Meg repeated the same reply, but with more volume and intensity.
"However, it is my best interest to see that all those under my command are happy and content in all their affairs ." He stared at Harm, but with a far less antagonism.
"Are you happy with Commander Austin, Mr. Rabb?"
Harm relaxed slightly, but still maintained his respect to his commanding officer. "Yes sir, I am. Exceedingly so."
"And Commander Austin, are you just as happy with Commander Rabb?"
"One hundred times more, sir" Meg expressed invigoratingly.
Chegwidden nodded as if approving of the remarks. "Good. Then I trust you two will have a happy evening?"
Harm grinned slightly. "We will sir."
He turned to Meg and gave her a wink. Her eyes brightened and she grinned. "Then you are dismissed."
"Thank-you sir," they spoke once more in unison. They quickly departed leaving the Admiral standing in place, watching them walk out together. When they were out of sight, he reflected on the entire saga of their relationship. Alone and speaking to no one, he spoke out loud with gratification.
"Well it's about damn time."
Timing his arrival to the second, Harmon Rabb vaulted up the one flight of stairs to Meg's apartment, carrying a large bouquet of flowers. When stood in front of her door, he checked his watch—it read thirty seconds to seven in the evening. He next checked and smoothed out a few creases in his brand new three hundred dollar dark navy suit. Exhaling a large, nervous breath, he knocked on her door.
A few seconds later, the door opened and Harm's body and physical senses became paralyzed when he beheld the heavenly vision that was standing in front of him. Reality was slipping away—his senses were numbing beyond his conscious awareness. He stood frozen in the doorway, like any one of the numerous Washington DC statues, unable to move, except to react facially with extreme astonishment in response to the angelic beauty of the woman standing a few feet from him.
Meg, wearing the clinging maroon colored mini dress she had pilfered from the Bolivian mission, stared back at Harm with concern over his strange behavior. Her bright blond hair was elegantly coiffed into a dazzling display of soft curls, seemingly lightening up the hallway like a heavenly halo. Her face had its own glow and freshness; her rosy cheeks complimented her full lips which were deliciously clad with a medium red lipstick that glistened invitingly.
"Harm, what is it?" she exclaimed in semi-alarm. "Nothings happened, has it? Please don't tell me our date is off!" She waited with nervous anticipation for his response as he maintained his heart stopping fixation on her beauty he was powerless to look away from. He finally gathered a momentary reestablishment of his faculties, but he was still far from any rational sense of normalcy.
"No.....everything is fine....it's wonderful, in fact, "he drawled slowly, his voice clogged with emotion.
"I must be dead."
Meg's eyes widened quickly. "Dead?"
His expression was vacant, his eyes glassy. "I....I must be in heaven because I'm looking at an angel."
For a moment, Meg was ready to scoff and rebuff his remark. Knowing him for four years and hearing his dry and often flippant humor had, at times, made her feel like he was capable of nothing else. But she sensed the sincerity and honest emotion emanating from him. He was speaking from his heart. Her eyes became watery and she moved toward him, embracing him lovingly. He hugged her tightly in return, focusing his entire being on relishing the warmth of her body.
"If you only knew how long I have waited for this moment," she murmured in his ear.
Harm moved his head until he was melting into her sapphire blue eyes. "It should have happened long ago."
"Well, let's make the most of it. We have the night." Meg chuckled inwardly, thinking that she was afforded the opportunity to say those special words, but knowing she was saying them with all her love for him.
Harm released her and stepped backward, surveying Meg's overall appearance with the same hot-blooded fervor any typical male would demonstrate when in the presence of a beautiful woman. A tingling rush of lust for her enveloped him, making his face hot and moist from the increased intensity his racing heart was pumping his blood at record speed. Noticing she was being ogled, Meg obligingly slowly spun around, happy that her attire and appearance were perfect for the occasion and met his approval.
"My God Meg," Harm exclaimed with an emphatic impassioned wantonness. "You look absolutely breathtaking."
Blushing from his compliment, Meg looked over Harm for herself. "And you sir, look quite dashing. Are those flowers for me, or the old lady down the hall?"
Forgetting his was holding them, he handed them to her. Desiring to get on with the evening, Meg hurriedly found a vase, put in a splash of tap water, and raced to the door. She grabbed his arm firmly and they made their escape to his car. When she saw that Harm was only a few steps away from a blue Chevy Tahoe, she stopped abruptly.
"Harm, where is your Corvett?"
He turned to her and grinned timidly. "I still have it, but I'm going to sell it. I picked-up this car yesterday."
Meg aimed a skeptical eye his way. "This car doesn't exactly fit your image."
He chuckled in acknowledgment. "Well, I'm creating a new image, as of right now. Besides, I needed something more.....practical." He opened the passenger side door and she entered. He was prompt to notice how much of Meg's look shapely legs were exposed due to the shortness of her snug dress. When he sat in the drivers side, nervousness immediately overtook him. He could not help but look at her long, so visible, legs again.
"I was going to take you out to dinner, but I see you're dressed for the beach as well," he teased. "I'm afraid I forgot my swimming suit."
"Oh, if you don't think what I'm wearing is appropriate, I can go back and change into jeans and a sweatshirt," she replied sweetly.
A cluster of sirens rang out an alarm in his brain in reaction to Meg's idea of changing clothes. That was the last thing he wanted.
"No! No—no!" he spoke posthaste. "Please—let's just go." He reached for his keys and immediately began to fumble them around, unable to locate the correct key to fit the ignition. His nervousness had not subsided, and it was physically making presence known in a quite untimely fashion. After a few more fumbles, the keys fell to the car floor.
Meg was watching his un-Harm-like behavior with ecstatic glee, quite happy with the effect she was having on his male libido.
"You dropped your keys," she said innocently, but with a tone of jocularity.
He gave her a "yes-I-know" look and picked them up. Meg suddenly jumped in her seat and stared at him as if she were about to deliver a bombshell.
"Oh no! I forgot something!" she cried out in genuine distress.
Quite startled, Harm faced her, putting his hand on her bare shoulder. "Meg! What is it?" He face was etched with concern.
She looked at him wide-eyed, as if in terror. "I forgot to put on my panties!"
That revelation sent the keys flying out the open drivers side window, as Harm's body spasmed from the sexual connotations of her salacious remark.
Elated that she pulled another "fast one" on him, she smiled wickedly at him, thinking that she could move his pawn around the chessboard in any direction, as she saw fit.
"Now you've lost the car keys," she smirked dryly. "I don't think were going anywhere tonight."
Harm momentarily grabbed the steering wheel tightly, attempting to "get-a-grip" on his wayward emotions. He realized she was toying with him again, but he was under her spell. His fate had been cast, but he was quite accepting of the scenario. He looked behind his left shoulder for oncoming traffic and opening his door. The keys were within reach—he did not have to leave his seat. Once more with a greater sense of calmness and composure, he attempted, for a third time, to start the car. The right key fit and the Tahoe started immediately.
"Grrr-ate! Geet on lit'l dawgy!" Meg drawled with delight at Harm's success. "Oh by the way Harm, I am wearing panties.....barely."
He shot her a look of feigned annoyance. "You are such a tease Meg."
She laughed. "Yeah, I know, but you love it."
All he could do was nod in agreement.
Harm pulled out Meg's chair and she sat down in front of a elegantly set table in the outdoor section of the Ranchers Southwestern Bar and Restaurant, along the southern shore of Chesapeake Bay, south of DC. Once seated, she looked out across the water and sighed in contentment. It was a breathtaking view of a collage of shoreline homes and sailboats. It was still daylight, but dusk was rapidly approaching. Sitting himself at the table opposite her, the only beauty he desired to partake in this setting, was Meg's loveliness. Meg turned to him, still exuding a far-a-way look in her sparkling blue eyes.
"This place is wonderful Harm. What a view!' How did you find it?"
He grinned. "Like I always say, it's not what you know, it's who you know. I friend recommended it. They supposedly have the best tasting Angus beef steaks in Maryland. He told me to order the Cattleman's special."
Meg frowned slightly. "Say, isn't that the Admiral's line?"
Harm relented. "Oh yeah. Well, I'm borrowing it tonight. Are you in the mood for a thick juicy steak.?"
Meg smiled in approval. "You betcha, but there's something missing."
"Oh, you mean the champagne?" he replied with eyebrows raised. A few seconds later, a waiter brought a bottle to the table with an ice bucket. As was his station, he opened the bottle, and poured two glasses of the bubbling liquid into elegant crystal wine glasses.
"Would you like to see the menus, or shall we wait a bit," he asked pleasantly.
Harm could sense the waiter knew exactly what his response would be—he had probably been in service to hundreds of couples romancing each other at this restaurant. He knew the routine.
"Ahhh, I think we'll wait....you understand."
The waiter, a dark haired in his early thirty's with a thin mustache, nodded back to Harm with complete accord. "I do sir. May I say you picked a lovely evening to dine at our establishment. We will give the champagne some time to breathe." He bowed slightly and departed.
Meg was impressed. "Wow! Now that's what I call service. I'm starting to like this place more and more."
"What I like is the woman sitting across from me more and more." He rose his glass for a toast—Meg rose hers. "To an evening of magic....and romance." They clinked glasses and drank.
Meg set her glass down and gazed at Harm affectionately. "This is absolutely perfect," she sighed blissfully. "The perfect night, the perfect setting.....oh yeah, and the company ain't so bad either."
Harm snickered. "Oh, well if I'm not perfect, I can arrange for the waiter to take my place."
"Oh no. Don't you dare move," she commanded in humor. "And that's an order." She reached out across the table and took his hand. "There is no other man on this Earth I would rather be with tonight....or any other night from now on."
He rubbed her hand lovingly, but his expression was downcast. "Meg, I need to tell you......I have been such a fool." She started to object at his remark, but he spoke quickly. "Please, I need to say this."
He took his free hand and clutched hers with both. She reciprocated and they held each others hands.
"I—I feel like such an idiot," he spoke slowly, emotionally. "For the longest time, I wanted you, more than I have ever wanted anything or anyone. And yet I couldn't see the forest through the trees. I think I avoided the forest all together. When we were on the bridge of the Tiger Shark after we had nailed Grover and you were so spunky and playful with me, I felt something for you....a connection I had never felt with any other woman. At first, I just considered the feeling was attributed to "the excitement" of our first assignment together—the newness of our partnership, but it didn't take me long to discover how special you are."
He looked deeply into her blue eyes, knowing the bond between them was forever strengthening, never to be broken. For the first time, his heart was opening completely; the source of his words, his truest feelings, were no longer coming from any rational, cerebral related origin. Gone were any notions that the Navy and his career were paramount in his life plans. Above all else, the urge to give his heart to Meg was now his only aspiration. Procuring her love was all that mattered.
"As time went on," he continued with an air of humbleness and contrition, "I thought I could disavow and ignore my feelings for you, which were growing stronger day by day. I kept telling myself, "Harm, the Navy is your life. There will be women.....there will be romantic flings and affairs, but you cannot allow one woman to interfere with what has taken you years to create." He looked away briefly and exhaled a large breath, appearing as if he were seeking to locate a new source of inner strength that would enable him to continue. When he locked onto her eyes again, Meg's inner being soared to new heights of happiness when she could see, with undeniable clarity, the expression of love and adoration he was directing toward her. A swelling of heart based emotion encompassed her being as she continued to listen intently him. Still holding hands, she squeezed his affectionately, savoring their intimacy.
"I guess there comes a point, a time of reckoning, in every man's life, when he has to stop and take stock of his life and the direct he is going. I did that Meg, and I knew that if I continued on my chosen path, my ultimate destination would have been an empty venture. What is the joy in living when you have no one to share your experiences, or aspirations with. I thought I was content—happy with my life, but I was only kidding myself. I tried to disregard the emptiness I felt, the part of me that felt incomplete and unfulfilled. But when you came into my life, I began to realize what I was missing."
Unexpectedly, Harm rose from his chair and moved it to the side of the table to her immediate left. He edged much closer, placing his right arm around her waist. Meg responded by putting her left hand on the back of neck, while she held his hand with her right. He leaned into her and kissed her lightly.
"Meg, I can't deny what I feel for you, not for another second. Hey! I'm your boyfriend, right?" He grinned at her affectionately. "Listen, I am going to be the best boyfriend—oops...serious boyfriend you ever could imagine."
"And I'll be an even better serious girlfriend to you," she cooed with a smile.
He pulled her closer and eyed her devilishly. "You may think you already know a lot about me, but you what you have yet to experience is how affectionate I can be."
Meg's eyes widened in excitement. "Ooouuuu! I'd love to find out....how about tonight?" They kissed again, but with greater intensity. Their lip lock was interrupted by a familiar voice behind them.
"Excuse me sir, I didn' t mean to interrupt your privacy."
Harm turned toward the voice of their waiter, who had discreetly and silently edged up to the table. He acknowledged the waiters politeness.
"It's quite alright," he replied graciously. He returned his attention back to Meg. "How about I order for the both of us."
She rubbed the back of his neck and looked at him adoringly. "Harm, I have always trusted you....in everything."
Harm grinned and turned back to the waiter. "We will order two Cattleman Specials—medium rare. Baked potatoes and Caesar salads." The waiter nodded in approval and left without hesitation. Harm faced Meg and beheld an unexpected sight. Meg had released her touch on him and was holding her head, as in a sign he found puzzling.
"I never should have listened to Commander Krennick," she moaned. "If anyone is a fool, it's me." She rose her head and gazed at him with the hint of tears. "I am so sorry Harm. I never meant things to get so.....crazy. I just wanted you to want me, and I thought by making you jealous....well...I can see that was a stupid way to get your attention. Not very smart for being a Navy lawyer."
Harm rubbed her knee and leaned toward her. "Hey, if you had worn this dress for me before any of this, you would have my attention instantly. Besides, are any of us so blameless." He once again looked lustfully at her cleavage and let his eyes wander delightfully down to her well exposed legs. Meg was a beautiful woman, not exquisitely attractive to many male discerning eyes, but to him, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he felt exceeding fortunate she desired his companionship.
Meg's disposition started to improve. "I guess not. You know that I planned everything, with the Gunney's co-operation."
"I figured as much."
"But you," she gasped with an expression of sudden inspiration, "did you conspire with that Ensign—Tina Harris....or didn't you? He remained silent which aroused her curiosity more. "Harm, don't tell me you were stringing her along?"
He leaned back and took another sip of champagne as his face shown the reflections of some hidden truth.
"Did I?" he answered evenly.
Meg eyed him discerningly. "Knowing you, there's something going on here."
He gave her just the hint of a grin. "Is there?"
She squinted and pursed her lips together—her lawyer thought processes were swinging into high gear. "There is.....hmmmm....let's go over the facts." She took a sip of champagne, simultaneously with Harm. "I gave you the appearance that I was romantically interested in Victor Galindez. But your reaction was giving even with me, rather than coming to me and begging for my affections out of jealousy and genuine affections of.....ahhhh....love?"
Harm rolled his eyes skyward. "I wouldn't put it quite that way, but continue."
"Okay. So you start dating Ensign Harris, woman who is obviously not your type, to get me jealous--"
"--And it worked," he interrupted with vindication.
"......ooohhh-kayyy...it did work, to a point," she conceded, "but why would you use my ploy and not make Ensign Harris privy to your intentions?" She gazed at him watchfully, looking for a clue. "You wouldn't just dump her when it suited you—please don't tell me that Harm?"
He chuckled at that idea. "Well, you keep saying how well you know me. What's you conclusion counselor?"
She studied his face for several seconds. "Unless......you made her part of your plan without her knowledge." She waited for him to respond, but he remained silent. "So, assuming that's true, you would be using her, in such a manner where she wouldn't get hurt."
He nodded. "Keep going."
"So, how would you accomplish that and still maintain the illusion that you two were an item?" Meg looked away toward the waters of the Chesapeake and two large sailboats with colorful sails that were lazily drifting along on a light evening breeze. Dusk was rapidly approaching and she could see a crescent moon make its presence known amongst a few visible stars. A feeling of bliss enveloped her as she contemplated the perfection of the night, and the serenity of having her perfect man, the man she loved, so close, and so caring. Then, a notion—a thought entered her otherwise heavenly state, and she turned back to Harm wearing a broad smile.
"I think I have it," she spoke in triumph. "What did Ensign Harris say in my office that seems relevant to these proceedings? What was it?.......She was fed up with your preoccupation with me—I was your preferred topic of conversation. Let's see.....Meg is so sweet.....Meg is so brave. How true." She shook her head and gave her a playful slap on his shoulder. "You are the sly one. You purposely kept name dropping me, until our young Ensign got the message. Seeing that your interest was always slanted toward me, she would dump you, and you would be off the hook." She moved her face so close to his, they rubbed noses and foreheads.
"Waaa—eellll, Meestahh Rabb," she drawled sweetly. "Is deese cahhssee clooosed?"
Harm laughed and put his arm around her waist. What a remarkable woman Meg was; intelligent, beautiful, resourceful, high spirited, and so in tune with his dreams and desires, he found himself loving her more with each breath. He gazed into her dazzling blue eyes and wanted to lose himself in her. She was captivating, alluring, sexy, and his every dream. A suddenly rush of clarity and euphoria overwhelmed him, causing his entire body tingle in arousing conglomeration of joy and sexual desire. He knew, beyond any premonition of doubt, she was the one. His heart was now hers.
With his right arm around her, her caressed her thigh with his left. "Guilty as charged," he spoke softly, passionately. "I am at the mercy of the court."
Meg placed a hand on his upper thigh and began to massage his muscles with her magical fingers. She bit her lower lip in response to feelings of lust and desire that were building to monumental proportions within her. Her hunger to make love to him, giving herself to him unconditionally and with total surrender, was making her quiver with excitement and wanton anticipation. In that moment, she thought about suggesting their departure in favor of a more intimate venue, specifically his apartment and bedroom, but another voice was seeking to be heard—her growling stomach, demanding to be fed.
She aimed a wicked, amorous look his way, while rubbing his upper thigh more sensually. "Then it is the judgment of this court to pronounce sentence later this evening.....in your apartment....when we are alone." She kissed his cheek softly. "But first, I want dinner. I think I could eat a whole longhorn."
Harm touched her cheek and nodded. "I'm with you. We'll have a nice dinner, and then see where the night takes us."
Meg grinned, her face still close to his. "By the way, I found your Latin message very prophetic and very true. What did you think of mine?"
He blushed, embarrassed he had not acted on deciphering it. "Ahhh, I—I didn't get a chance to ask someone to help me translate it. What did it say?"
She placed a hand behind his neck and lightly rubbed his skin. "Si no tiene amor en su corazon, entonces no tienen nada—if you don't have love in your heart, then you have nothing."
Harm looked away briefly, contemplating the meaning of her words. She not only had an insight into his heart, but into humanity's as well. Perhaps that was her intention. He looked back at her and grinned in acknowledgment.
"There must be a message there for me somewhere," he said with a humble intonation.
"Well, I was beginning to wonder if there was any room in your heart for me."
Her rubbing of his bare skin was beginning to generate feelings of sexual arousal, which he welcomed, but he fervently desired a lot more body rubbing later in the evening, preferably in his bed. He gifted her his patented wide toothy smile and stroked her thigh passionately.
"Meg, how big is Texas. That's how much room there is in my heart for you. Now, can we eat?" Seconds later, a different waiter set two large oval dinner plates with sizzling sixteen ounce steaks with the trimmings.
A tall blond woman dressed in a tight maroon mini dress, and a taller dark haired man dressed in a dark tailored suit, walked in unison, arms around each others waists, until they met their destination. The man removed a set of keys from his pocket and began a search for the key that would unlock his apartment door. The woman eyed his actions with a bit of frivolity.
"Are you sure you can open the door? Maybe I should do it."
He shot her a mock look of annoyance and opened the door promptly. She entered the apartment first, walking in some ten feet, stopped, and turned to face him. He slowly, deliberately walked toward her, removing his suit coat and tie in the process. As they came together, they embraced with a hunger and yearning that was aching to be satisfied. Their deep kiss was long and intense—its passion created from emotions long subdued, but now completely ready to be explored and indulged. They held each other as if they were clinging to life itself; they were now each others life. Each wished to give the other as much pleasure as they sought to receive. Still locked together in a torrid kiss neither wanted to relinquish, the woman kicked off her high heeled shoes, the man pulled his shirt out from his pants and started to unzip her dress. The woman began to unbutton his shirt.
He could not get enough of her—her lips were so soft and erotically pleasurable, the taste so sweet and delightful, he was willing to surrender himself totally to her kiss....to her touch....to her body. He let his hands slide down the bare skin of her back, skin so velvety and alluring. Aroused by his touch, she moaned deeply with pleasure, letting her lips slide more voraciously against his, her tongue now working its own magic inside his mouth. She could sense a cauldron of lust boiling for him, surfacing from deep within her feminine loins, ready to explode in a fury of sexual heat beyond any dream or imagination she could have created or realized. She instinctively knew he was the man, the only man who could stimulate and satisfy her craving for total sexual bliss. She sensed this would be the night where she would find completeness as a woman, sexually and spiritually, with the man she loved with such fervor and passion, she was ready to accept every emotional and sexual pleasure he was willing to bestow, and she was as eager to return his love with an equal exertion of physical stimulation.
Their kiss embrace was lengthy and delightfully exciting. They mutually discontinued their mouth to mouth suction, if only temporarily, to savor its bliss.
Meg moved her right hand and simulated fanning herself as she took several deep wisping breaths. "Whhhaaaooo! I think I'm burning up!" She met Harms eyes and was ecstatic to see the lust and desire quite visible in his dreamy stare.
"If we keep kissing like that," she spoke as if exhausted, "I don't think I'll survive the evening."
"What you should be asking yourself is....can I survive till morning," he responded with a devilish leer.
Meg's mouth opened wide in surprise, but she was ecstatic over the prospects. "Ha! We shall see Harmon Rabb, but first, I need a big drink of water." Still cooling down from her torrid smooching, she turned toward the kitchen and walked to his refrigerator. Knowing Harm always kept a generous supply of bottled water handy, she opened the door to grab one.
Harm noticed how her dress appeared ready to fall off due to his unzipping. A rejuvenated feeling of sexual desire was building rapidly, but another, more powerful feeling was overwhelming his passions. A distinct, heartfelt swell of the truest, most pure emotion he had ever experienced was demanding expression. He knew precisely, and without the slightest notion of doubt, this was the perfect moment.
With her back to him, Meg closed the refrigerator door and began to untwist the bottled water cap. Then, is if the heavens opened and a orchestra of trumpets musically sang to the angels, and a swarm of thunderbolts, from God himself, lit up the sky in a glorious display of majestic splendor, she heard the words that made her drop her water and shake uncontrollably in extreme happiness.
"Meg, I am in love with you."
Time stopped—Meg's body lost all feeling. Her brain seemed to be spinning out of control, losing all sense of reality. She sought to regain some semblance of composure and rational thought, but a lightheaded dizziness enveloped her, and she reached backward to grab the edge of the counter top for support. Did she really ear his words correctly—was it another bout of wishful thinking, or her overactive imagination that once again created another fantasy of Harm "the white knight," carrying her away to live with him in a magical world of love and laughter? She steadied herself and faced him, praying that she had heard him correctly. Every hope for love with him, every dream she had dared to imagine, was now teetering on the brink of reality or despair. She gazed at him in a trance-like state, somewhere in between confusion and ecstasy.
Harm gazed upon Meg and felt a tumultuous outpouring of love he never realized was within his being. The shadows and veils of trepidation and uncertainty had lifted and dissipated. He more sure of his love for her, he could now not conceive of his life without her in it.
"It's.....it's really more than that...." he spoke slowly, tenderly. "I am.....crazy about you....head over heals....all of those crazy cliques you hear in the movies about love.....that's me.....that's how I feel about you. I want you in my life, now, and always."
Meg could not be sure she wasn't dreaming. If it was, she never wanted to wake-up. Every hope and prayer, all of her aspirations and desires had come true. At that moment, she wanted to jump skyward in rapture and yell out a good ole Texas, "YAHHH WHHOOO! Somehow, she fought the urge and continued to stare at him, but with a quickening expression of elation. When she finally addressed him, her tone was semi-sarcastic, but emotionally jubilant.
"Harmon Rabb.....that is the smartest thing you have ever said."
Harm was quick to catch-on to her type of lightheartedness. "Oh, you think so? Smarter than anything I've ever said in court? Any summation, or cross examination?"
"Infinitely more."
He stuck out his lower lip, displaying a look as if he were pondering the proceedings. "Well, I could say something less intelligent, like....Meg, you know that I love you, and I pray that you like me, just a little. If you could find it in your heart to dump a few of your boyfriends, to make room for me, I would be eternally grateful."
She rolled her eyes around the room, rubbing her chin. "Hummm....I just don't know. You're asking a lot." She suddenly rushed into his arms and kissed him. He found her bare back once more and caressed her bare skin. When they broke their kiss, she placed her lips against his ear.
"God! If you only knew how much I love you Harm. I've loved you for....." She gazed into his eyes, somehow, not finding the words.
"A long time?" he answered her with a wide grin.
Meg sighed heavily. "Yeah."
"Me too." He clung to her more tightly.
She gave him an alluring smile. "You know, if you loosen your grip on me, this dress just might fall off." He slide the thin straps of her dress over her shoulders—her breasts still covered by fabric, but by the barest of margins. She removed his shirt and turned her attention to his belt and trousers, loosening a buckle and button with a heightened sexual zeal she found exhilarating. Once his pants were off, she looked downward at his last remaining article of clothing other than his socks.
"Boxers," she exclaimed in recognition, still smiling, "I knew it."
Harm scoffed at her comment. "Meg, that is no revelation. You saw me undress when we first came aboard the Tiger Shark—remember?"
She blushed slightly and winced. "Oh yeah. You saw me look at you?"
He nodded and gave her a "I-know-everything" glance. "You tried to be discrete and professional, but let's face it, you couldn't help yourself.....just as I can't help myself either. I've always wanted to know what was underneath that Navy uniform."
She moved her face very close to his. "Well, you're about to find out, aren't you."
He delicately clutched each side of her dress and pulled it downward until it hit the floor. She pressed her body against his and let herself drink in his masculine aroma and touch. The warmth and softness of her body was intoxicating—the delight of feeling her breasts against his chest sexually aroused him with an inner fire of passion and desire so consuming and powerful, for an instant, he felt the urge to make love to her on the very spot where they stood in each others arms. He let his hands drift down her back until her was cupping her curvaceous bottom, give her backside cheeks a playful squeeze. She giggled with the pleasure of his touch.
"Are we just gonna stand here....or is there some other place more.....comfortable." She let her hands slide down his back beyond the elastic band of his boxers until they rested on his butt, which she rubbed and squeezed to her delight, amongst more girlish giggles.
He let himself fall deeper into the blue pools of luminescence her beguiling eyes enticingly taunted him to enter. He grinned at her with a roguish guise of lust and sexual longing she found titillating to her own ever increasing craving for his body and love.
"Last one in the bedroom makes the coffee in the morning," he said with frivolity.
Neither of them moved. The sensation of her sensual body heat and eroticism was too overpowering to ignore, much less, let go of. They still held each in the same fashion.
"Harm, you're not moving. I thought you'd be first since you know the way." She could not smiling at him, her happiness was achieving new heights every second.
"I....ahhhh, thought I would be the gentleman, and let you win."
She took hold of his boxers and slid them off, delighting herself with the view of him it afforded her. She aimed a blatantly lascivious gaze his way, hoping he would pick-up on its intent.
"I don 't want you to be a gentleman tonight," she spoke with a lustful nuance. She then cocked her head to one side, with eye brows raised, showing him a "do-you-know-what-I mean?" expression.
He happily nodded, then broke free from her grasp and raced to his bedroom, leaving her standing in place in a daze. A few seconds later, she heard a loud voice echo off the walls.
"You're making the coffee tomorrow."
She laughed, removed her last article of clothing, and ran to his bedroom. Turning the last corner and in the clear, she flung herself through the air on to the mattress, bounced once, and landing directly on top of him. They both laughed and hugged each other tightly.
"Now that's what I can an entrance," he said mirthfully.
She looked into his eyes dreamily, and then his let her gaze wander to his lips, which she madly desired to kiss passionately.
"I don't think you're going to get much sleep tonight," she spoke as if giving an order.
"And I know you're not getting any sleep at all, I'll see to that."
Without wasting another precious moment, they kissed hungrily, with a fervency and uninhabited desire to please each other, emotionally and physically. Their love had now been sealed, their bond consummated. They held each throughout the night as new lovers, seeking to give and receive as much pleasure as was within their hearts and souls to give.
Admiral Chegwidden looked at his desk clock with a touch of annoyance. He called his aide again.
"Tiner, is Commander Rabb in yet? I need to see him about a new case."
Before any voice could respond over the intercom, there was a knock on his door. Heaving a "end-of-the-week-blues" sigh, he called the knocker to enter. Commander Krennick soon appeared.
"I apologize Admiral, I sent Petty Officer Tiner on a small errand."
He sighed again. "Alright. Have you seen Commander Rabb? Isn't he here by now?" His tone was becoming terse.
"Oh, you haven't heard," answered Commander Krennick with a sly grin. "Commander Rabb called in sick today."
Chegwidden frowned. "Sick? He's never sick."
Krennick chuckled. "Guess who else called in sick." She looked at him as if she were privy to the most monumental of secrets.
The Admiral gave her a blank stare, but soon his eyes displayed what he guessed quickly. "You don't mean.....?"
Krennick nodded. "Yes, our hard working, industrious, I never get sick either, Lt. Commander Austin called in sick too."
The Admiral shook his head in acknowledgment and crossed his arms. "Now if we were to call one of their apartments, I wonder which one would be home."
Krennick already knew the answer, but she decided not to verbally give her opinion. "Wherever they are, we can assume our two lovebirds are finally in the same cage."
The Admiral grinned in agreement, remembering how he caught Rabb and Austin in a passionate embrace in the elevator the day before.
"Well, I expect both of them chirping before me in my office bright and early Monday morning. I have three new cases to brief them on." He swiveled in his chair sideways and stared vacantly toward is blank TV, appearing as if he were contemplating something important. He then stood and addressed Commander Krennick.
"A job well done Commander," he extolled, giving the impression of praise. "All in the Navy's best interest, wouldn't you agree?"
Krennick smiled, understanding the Admiral perfectly. "Yes sir. In the Navy's best interest."
The End
Authors final comments:
I never thought I would write this much, but the story kept evolving and lengthening. So, that is my interpretation of the Harm/Meg romance. I hope you enjoyed it. This story has been therapeutic for me. If there is something we lack in our lives, or something we wish we had, it can be created on paper and it can become real, in a sense. I never found my Meg. Perhaps in another lifetime. Adios.