Chapter 24 – Snow, Farm and Christmas

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1015 local, Tuesday 8th December 1998, JAG HQ

Harm and Mac knew that even as they would have some leave during Christmas they could not get the whole week they wanted. Bud as a junior lawyer had not been granted any leave at all. At least he and Harriet made no travel plans for the Christmas.

"I need one of you to be here from the December 28. I already grated Commander Imes her leave."

Harm did not wanted to give up yet. "Bud will be here and so will commander Brumby."

AJ looked at him. He knew that the relationship between those two grew to something more than best friends since Rabb was transferred to Pentagon and than again after their trip to Russia. "Yes. But I will not be here and I want someone I can trust to be acting JAG for the week. You can decide who will that be. Brumby is still new here and he is Australian."

"Sir, we will both be here," answered Mac as she knew their plans for Christmas were shattered.

When they left Admiral's office both of them went to Harm's office. They should ask for leave sooner but they thought it was soon enough.

"So what will we do?" Asked Mac as she closed door behind her.

Harm looked at her and wanted to hug her but they did not shut blinds so everyone could see them. "I don't know. California is off so we can do best we can here."

"There is not much to do if you do not want to spent most of the day in bed." Mischievous as always Mac knew that this option was something neither of them would decline but Christmas was more about family gathering than lovemaking.

"I will have to call mom and tell her we will not be able to make it." He so wanted to be with his family this year but it seemed that it was not to be.

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2040 local, Tuesday 8th December 1998, Harm's apartment

Harm knew that he should call his mom sooner rather than later but Mac had to urge him to made the call. She knew that if Harm postponed it the situation would not get any better.

"Hi, mom."

"I'm sorry. We can't make it to you for the Christmas. We are needed here from the Monday after Holidays."

"Hm … Let me tell this to Mac." Harm looked at her and put his hand around her waist. "Mom thinks we can all celebrate Christmas at grams farm."

"That's great idea. If we can get few days before Christmas we can return late Sunday and be back at work at Monday morning."

"Yeah, mom. We will have to ask Admiral first but that should not be a problem. … I will call you about that later."

What? Asked Mac without words.

"Bye, mom." "Bye, Trish." Said both of them simultaneously. It was one of the things they perfected during last year.

"What do you want to speak with your mom without me, Flyboy?" Mac was curious but she knew that even Harm needed his personal secrets sometimes.

"Nothing to worry about. I will tell you later." Harm saw the look she gave him. He could not hold secrets from her for a long time. This time he would have to resist her for just long enough.

"Promise?" Mac made no effort to try her puppy look but Harm still got the message.

"Promise!" Harm affirmed it with a kiss. He knew he had two very long weeks ahead.

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0920 local, Wednesday 9th December 1998, JAG HQ

"Sir, we changed our plans for the Christmas." Harm stood alone in Admiral's office this time. Mac had scheduled hearings at court for the whole day. Now when they made new plans that allowed them to return back to work on 28th it was up to Admiral if he would grant them at least two days of leave before Christmas Day.

"I'm listening, Commander." AJ actually expected something like that. He knew he shattered their plans but he was sure that they would adapt to that situation and make new plans.

"We want to take our leave from the 23rd to 27th." Harm knew that they would have to finish work on their cases earlier than they expected but it was worth it.

"Very well. If you finish your work on your major cases before you leave I have no problem with that." AJ wrote down when both Harm and Mac would be gone. He knew that Brumby would not like this but it was his problem. If the arrogant Aussie would care to ask he would find out about the status of Rabb long ago. And of the relationship of his two officers too.

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0700 local, Wednesday 23rd December 1998, Mac's apartment

Mac smiled as she grabbed her favorite book from under her night table.

"I think we have everything now, Mac." Harm knew that the flight would be a short one but Mac insisted that she needed something interesting to read. They could buy some new magazines on their way to the plane but she was only interested in political and was fiction.

"Yeah. We should go anyway. We have only 65 minutes to catch our flight."

"One day you should tell me how you do it."

"We will see about that, Flyboy."

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1050 local, Wednesday 23rd December 1998, Sarah Rabb's farm, Beallsville, Pennsylvania

Mac checked weather report before they left Washington so they knew that there would be some snow. But they were surprised by the amount of it anyway. Harm was glad that he rented big SUV that had no problem with ten inches of new snow.

"Gram, it's so good to see you again!" called Harm as he opened the main door and stepped in.

"Welcome, kids. And get your inside before you froze."

Harm kissed her cheek and hurried back out to the car to get the rest of their luggage. They did not had to bring much as Mac left their pajamas and some change clothes here during their last visit but with all the winter clothes and Christmas presents they had one big luggage and two bags.

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1940 local, Wednesday 23rd December, Sarah Rabb's farm

Harm made sure that Mac was busy talking to his grandmother and went to his mom's room. "Mom, do you have it?" He was nearly whispering. Not that it was necessary but after two weeks he did not wanted to give away his secret before the right time.

Trish smiled and gave him the small jewel box. Like the object inside it was nearly sixty years old. "I'm glad that you finally decided to ask her."

Harm smiled. He knew that his mom probably thought that he should made his move after their trip to Russia but Harm did not felt it was the right time. "I'm glad too."

"When do you want to do it?"

Harm though about it for the past week and now he finally decided. "Morning, Christmas Day. After we open the presents."

"Oh, that's romantic." Trish made mental note to bring her camera. She wanted to catch it for them and hopefully their children.

"Mom. I have one more favor to ask. I need to get this to the tree without Mac noticing it."

Trish looked at her son and than wonderful idea stroke her. Sarah Rabb had great ornaments for the tree and some of them looked like miniature presents. It should not be that hard to wrap this up to look like one of them.

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2320 local, Thursday 24th December 1998, Harm's room, Sarah Rabb's farm

"So what now, Ninja Girl?" Asked Harm as they dried themselves. The bath they took together was great. Not to mention the lovemaking.

"I think we should continue. I'm not yet quite satisfied."

"Mac, you came four times and you don't have enough? What can we do to remedy that?" Asked Harm and took Mac's towel from her. That left her completely naked and Harm could not help himself and playfully slapped her butt.

"You will pay for this. When I'm done you will regret ever doing it." Mac turned around and grabbed his towel from him. She did not bothered co cover herself with it but she wanted to see that gorgeous body pf her partner again.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe this time you will be the one completely spent." Harm kissed her hard and pressed their bodies together. He loved the feel of her full breasts against his chest. That made him hard and he had to control himself. He wanted to fuck her hard right now right here in the middle of their room.

Mac pulled from Harm and pushed him at the same time so they was now next to their bed. "Lay down and get ready."

"Aye, aye, ma'am!" Harm tried to salute but Mac pushed him down to bed.

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0720 local, Friday 25th December 1998, Sarah Rabb's farm

After they unwrapped all the presents Harm went to the tree and took down one of the gift like ornaments. Only it was not an ornament at all. It was well disguised and wrapped gift for his partner. Then he went to his best friend and lover and knelt before her on one knee and offred her the miniature wrapped box. Harm knew that he was an old school in this but he so much wanted to do it the right way that nothing else seemed appropriate.

"Sarah MacKenzie, will you marry me?" Harm was still little nervous. He knew that Mac loved him but he was not sure how would she react to his proposal.

Mac unwrapped the jewel box and opened it. The engagement ring inside was great. And it looked old. "YES! Of course I will marry you, Flyboy!"

Harm stood up and before he could do anything else Mac hugged him and kissed him like there would not be another time.

Trish, Frank and Sarah Rabb just looked at the young couple and did not dared to say anything. They all feared that any sound would break the moment. No one even noticed that Harm and Mac stood under an old and very dried mistletoe.

Both Harm and Mac felt the looks of the rest of their family. Than they heard the sound of camera as Trish took another picture of them. Mac forced herself to end the kiss and as she untangled herself from Harm her sixth sense told her to look up.

"Harm, look up." Mac waited until Harm found the mistletoe. "Shouldn't we kiss?"

Harm smiled and without any more word captured her lips again.

Sarah then remembered when and why she put the mistletoe there. It was for Harm's first Christmas after he graduated from the Academy. They celebrated Christmas on the farm and Harm brought his best friend here just like this time. Back then Sarah Rabb hoped that she would end up with great grandchildren soon but things turn out differently. After that Christmas she forgot about the mistletoe and let it there. It finally fond its use.

When the two lovebirds stopped kissing Trish took Mac aside. She was glad that the young Marine would soon be part her family. Their friendship was that of mother and daughter already. "I think we have a wedding to plan, Sarah."

"I don't know about that. I think we should wait until summer." Mac wanted this wedding to be something special. Not like her first one.

Trish smiled at that. That should gave her just about enough time to plan her son's wedding. "And that means we had to start now. Few months is not as much time as you may think."

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1400 local, Saturday 26th December 1998, Sarah Rabb's farm

Harm and Mac decided to go out and enjoy the clean fresh snow that covered everything. It was so great to just walk and chat about their relationship and how would they announce their engagement to their friends and colleagues. When they got to the barn Mac decided to do something childish.

"Incoming!" Called Mac but before Harm could react he was hit to his head by a snowball.

"Not fair!" Harm looked around but before he could made his own snowball another one hit him to his shoulder. "This mean war, Jarhead!" As soon as he made his own snowball Harm threw it at Mac. He aimed for her chest but hit only her elbow.

Mac knew that she had to make as much balls as she could or else Harm would just go for her until she would have nowhere to hide or run. She used the time when Harm made his first one to make several more.

Harm was hit again and this time to his head. He lost his new winter hat and while he put it back on his head he was hit again. "You will pay for this!"

Mac saw that Harm used his last snowball to cover him and that he sneaked few feet closer to her. He now used his left arm to cover his face and threw another snowball to her. She was able to evade it but Harm ran to her and rammed her.

They ended in the snow. Harm pinned Mac down but she still tried to get up or at least get off of her. She used her last ball and hit him right to his nose but otherwise she had little to no options to continue the fight.

"Do you surrender?" Harm used his weight and position against Mac. After she hit him he took her hands into his and now she was completely helpless.

"Any conditions?" counter-asked Mac as she thought about it. It was cold and if they stayed like that for a long time they could caught cold. And there was another problem. She was aroused and from the passion in Harm's eyes and the pressure on her stomach she knew that was too.

"Hmm. One. But let that discuss inside."

"Deal!"

With that sorted Harm stood up and than he held his hand to help Mac. "I bet that grams already have hot cocoa for us." Mac smiled and after a quick kiss they headed back to the house.

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Next chapter – Millennium and Metrics