Hi, again! I hope you don't mind if I add a few more ficlets. It's funny, Harm and Mac haven't been on screen in years, but I'm really having a lot of fun writing the two of them right now. I hope you still enjoy reading!
This is a morning after scene for the episode where they find out Clark Palmer is not actually in prison and Mac sleeps over at Harm's to protect him.
It's not even 0600 when Harm wakes up for his morning run. Quietly, so as not to disturb the sleeping Marine on his couch, he pulls on a tank top and running shorts and laces up his sneakers. He silently strides down the steps, and he's mere inches away from the door.
"Harm."
Damn.
Mac is wrapped up in the blanket on his couch, but he can tell from her voice that she's wide awake. Maybe she never even went to sleep. When she throws back the blanket and he sees that she's already dressed in her own running gear, Harm rolls his eyes.
"Don't start," Mac tells him sternly. "Clark Palmer is out there somewhere, and I'm not going to let you run alone at dawn."
He looks as if he's about to argue, but he seems to reconsider the idea and nods towards the door. "Only if you think you can keep up, Marine."
Mac scoffs. "Bring it on, Navy."
It's actually a rather uneventful run. The morning air is crisp and cool, and Mac holds her own with the fast pace he sets. They make good time on the wooded trail, running side by side, but Harm can tell that she's watching behind every tree and rock.
It's comforting, he thinks, even if it's a little obsessive. And it's nice to have a companion. Jordan never wants to run with him, and she would never allow him to go if she knew there might be a sociopath after him. He thinks she'll feel better when he tells her about his Marine security detail.
When they return to his apartment, they're both hot and sweaty, and Harm takes some orange juice out of the fridge and pours two glasses.
She's still gulping down the liquid when Harm motions to the bathroom. "You can get a shower if you want."
Mac shakes her head. "I'm supposed to be watching out for you, remember?"
"Mac, I'm sure you can take a few minutes and—"
"No."
"Then am I allowed to take a shower?" he asks.
Mac shifts uncomfortably. "Harm, if something happens while you're in there..."
"Well, Mac, either you trust that Palmer isn't going to come through my bathroom wall, or we'll both smell like a dirty sweat sock all day."
"Is there another option?"
Harm's eyes darken. "We could always shower together."
Maybe he won't tell Jordan about his security detail after all.
