Chapter 17
A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I am really enjoying the path this story is taking. In regards to the last chapter, I know not much happened. It was more of a transitional chapter from the weekend activities and vacation to the real world and careers. Thanks for hanging in there! Also, my career is requiring me to put in many more hours than usual so I will not be uploading quite as frequently, but I will try my best.
Harm's Apartment, February 12, 2017, 10:08am Eastern Standard Time
By this time today, Harm had already taken his morning jog, showered, changed, and was now on to fixing a late breakfast. He was feeling much more energized today than he was yesterday. Most of that had to do with him actually getting a good night's rest. Still, he was glad to have been able to enjoy a lazy day and then bounce back so easily. Harm was just putting the finishing touches on his omelette when he heard a knock at his door. He took the pan off of the heat so it would not burn. Then, he peeked through the peep-hole of his door. When he saw who was there, he opened the door.
"Long time, no see, Marine," Harm said to Mac who was standing right in front of him.
"Back 'atcha flyboy," Mac replied.
"How was your trip?" Harm asked. Then he realized they were talking in the doorway. "Oh, come in," he added and stepped to the side allowing her entrance into his apartment. She took a seat on one of the stools at the island counter.
"It was…interesting, to say the least," Mac said, trying her best not to give away too much at once.
"Okay, not very specific," Harm teased. "What happened?" He pried.
"I saw an 'old friend' there," Mac said.
At first, Harm looked confused. He wasn't sure who Mac would know on the other side of the planet. He thought about which Naval ships or Marine units might be stationed there or on liberty there. Then, all at once, it hit him - Mic Bugme / Brumby.
"Are you okay?" Harm asked, concerned for her emotional well-being. After all, Mic had been the one who decided a wedding would never happen and left Mac crying at the airport.
"I am," Mac said. "Or, I was."
"Was?" Harm asked, confused about how she would have been okay and then, all of a sudden, not okay.
"We talked and I felt like both of us came to an understanding. We both pointed out each other's faults and realized our own wrong-doings. I felt like we both had closure," Mac replied.
"What caused you to no longer feel that way? You're not dating him again, are you?" Harm asked. He regretted the question as soon as the words left his mouth. The look on Mac's face made Harm feel horrible. Then, she lifted her hand and play-smacked him. The only thing was, it was a harder hit than normal. "I'm sorry, I deserved that," he said, rubbing the spot on his arm which still ached a little.
"I can't believe you!" Mac said. "No, we're not dating. He is here, though."
"What?!" Harm said with surprise. "What do you mean by here?"
"He's not standing outside your door if that's what you thought. But he is back here in the states. Supposedly things haven't been going well for him in Sydney so he's making a fresh start here. Well, sort of a fresh start. He claimed it would be easier here because he knows the area and some people," Mac replied.
"So he meets up with you in Australia and then out of the blue decides to move to D.C.?" Harm asked. "It sounds like he's manipulating you again."
"He's not!" Mac said, a little more defensively than she meant to.
"What's your proof?" Harm asked.
"I saw his plane ticket receipt. He purchased it three weeks before I even arrived in Sydney. It was purely coincidence," Mac told Harm.
"Did he say anything else?" Harm asked curiously.
"The only other thing he said was that he was going for a fresh start, but if I wanted to meet up with him, I knew how to get in touch with him," Mac said, kind of wishing she had kept that bit to herself.
"I don't believe him," Harm grunted. "After all he did to you, he thinks you would actually want to see him?"
"Hey, I was the one who set up the meeting with him in Sydney after he ran into Chloe at the beach." Mac saw the look on Harm's face. "You weren't expecting that, were you?" Harm shook his head. "Harm, I realized that I did some horrible things to him and I wanted to make right by what I did."
"But do you actually think you have a future with him? Do you really want to go down that path again?" Harm asked, very surprised at his partner's words.
"I don't know, Harm," Mac said, getting very quiet. "It's clear we don't have a future together."
"What makes you say that?" He asked, confused.
"Come on, Harm. We tried it and it failed. Besides, it sounds like you're a little preoccupied with a woman at the moment."
"A woman?" Harm asked.
"I think you know who I mean," Mac replied. "The woman you were hoping was on the other line when I called to tell you I landed safely in Sydney."
"Oh…that…" Harm said awkwardly.
"Now you're all quiet," Mac said. "I just spilled my entire emotional week out and you won't even give me the smallest details about yours?" Mac shook her head. "And you wonder why we never lasted…" Mac said softly, but just loud enough for Harm to hear. Though Harm heard, he refused to reply to that comment.
"Skates is just going through a rough time right now. I'm helping out where I'm needed." Harm said, hoping that was enough to satisfy the Marine's curiosity.
"What's going on with her?" Mac asked.
Harm finished getting his breakfast in order while he told Mac the short version of what was going on with his former RIO. He explained about her husband passing, her career switch, her child, and the more recent drama. He decided to leave his dream out of the mix. Harm could tell that Mac was listening intently. Her eyes showed emotion for each moment Harm described. She nodded and interjected when appropriate. Harm liked having someone that he could talk to who would listen like this.
"That really sucks," Mac said when Harm finished telling her what was going on.
"It does. I wish there was something I could do to help more. I feel like when we were together on the carrier for those six months, everything between us came easy. Although then, there wasn't any drama like this. The biggest challenges we faced stemmed from X-Man and our missions over Bosnia and Kosovo," Harm explained.
"It sounds like you're doing all that you can. You're there when she needs you."
"But that's just it," Harm interrupted, "I don't feel like I'm there when she needs me. The last time I saw her, things were falling apart. I left and now I'm here. I don't even know how they turned out."
"Harm, I can't even begin to tell you how to handle this," Mac said. "What I will say is that I wish you the best of luck and if you need to talk, I'm here. For now though, I need to finish unpacking."
Mac got up from her seat at the counter and put her jacket on. Harm set down his plate of food and walked over to Mac. He wasn't entirely sure why he did this as the two didn't embrace each other. They said goodbye to each other and gave a slightly awkward wave as Harm opened the door and held it for Mac. He watched her exit the apartment and step into the elevator. Soon, she was gone and Harm was once again left alone with his thoughts.
Hawkes Residence, February 12, 2017, 11:14am Eastern Standard Time
Skates was trying her best to enjoy her day off before the work week resumed tomorrow morning. Her son, Peter, was busy finishing his school work. There was never anything good on television this time of day. She picked up the book she had been reading and tried to get into it. Partway through the chapter, she heard her phone begin to ring. She took it out and a smile appeared on her face as she saw who was calling her.
"Hello, Captain" she said as she answered the call.
"Hi Skates - or Elizabeth - or, what would you like me to call you?" Harm hesitated, knowing the events of two nights ago and how defensive she had become to being addressed by her call sign.
"Oh, Harm, I'm sorry," she said. "Skates is fine, I'm embarrassed for even saying that to you."
"You don't have to apologize," Harm told her. "After what you told me about the history behind the nickname, it doesn't surprise me that it can be upsetting at times."
"Thanks," she said. Even though Harm could not see her, he could tell that she was smiling. The thought made him smile, too.
"So," Harm began, "How are you doing? I know I kind of left at a bad time - and I feel bad about that -"
"No, you didn't," Skates interrupted. "Shortly after you left, we patched things up. There are still occasional times when I can sense tension, but for the most part, we're back to normal."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Harm replied.
"Thank you for all of your help," She said genuinely.
"What did I do?" Harm asked.
"You talked some sense into both of us," Skates replied. "I think it really did Peter some good to hear from someone other than me. You were a really positive male role model for him - he doesn't get that much."
"I'm glad I was able to be there," Harm said. "And that's really unfortunate. I know how hard it is to grow up without your father, but I don't know what it's like to grow up without a father figure. As much as I didn't really accept him at times, I still had Frank in my life."
"Maybe someday he'll have someone," Skates said, not meaning to say it aloud.
"Until that day comes," Harm began, "I can help out when needed," Harm offered. "I mean, you could give him my number and he could call me if he needs to talk and I could call to check up on him, if you think that would be okay?"
"I think it would be great," Skates said happily. "I think he really does trust and respect you."
"How would you know that?" Harm asked.
"Mother's intuition?" Skates guessed.
"I'll take it," Harm said.
"So, I think Peter would receive that best coming from you in person," Skates said, hinting that they should make plans to get together soon.
"So, you're asking me over?" Harm teased.
"I guess I am," Skates teased back.
The set up a time later that week to get together and have dinner. They both agreed that it was easier for Harm to meet Skates at her house than for her to drag Peter over to Harm's place. Once they set up their plans, the two continued to talk for a while. Harm was sure to tell Skates about Mac meeting up with Brumby and how he was moving back to the States. Then, that brought them back into talking about their good old days flying F14s. Before long, the two had been talking for almost an hour.
Mac's Apartment, February 12, 2017, 2:45pm Eastern Standard Time
Mac had just finished unpacking all of her things from Australia. She took a deep breath and smiled at her accomplishment. Then, she decided that she earned herself an ice cold soda. She went over to her refrigerator and grabbed a can of soda. She popped the tab and began to down the cool beverage. It was a much-needed refreshment. When she was about halfway down with the drink, her cell phone began to go off. When she saw who was calling her, she straightened her posture and cleared her throat before answering the phone.
"Hello, sir, Colonel Mackenzie, sir," she said into the phone.
"Relax, Colonel," Mac heard the General say on the other line.
"What can I do for you, sir?" Mac asked.
"Well, I was first calling to make sure you got in alright."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Mac responded.
"Excellent. The next thing," he began. "I need to have a meeting with you first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir. May I ask the nature of the meeting?" Mac asked.
"That's classified," General Cresswell replied.
"Understood, sir." Mac responded.