Getting Ready
Disclaimer: I don't own them; if I did I would be too busy to write this.
Again I would love opinions…
=====================================================================================================
The Capital Beltway
It had been a 3 days since the basement incident. Things seemed to be getting back to normal, what ever that is. Harm and Mac finally admitted their feelings to each other with a little help from their friends. They appreciated what their friends had done by pushing them in the right direction, for now. Like the Admiral had said, "there are no guarantees." They were just taking it a day at a time and trying to put as little pressure on the relationship as possible.
Tonight was date night, Mac hadn't used that expression in a very long time and usually "date night" was on Saturdays, this was a Tuesday. Leaving JAG early she drove home to get ready. I'm like a teenager on her first date, she thought. We've been out to dinner a million times; we've even had to sleep in the same bed. Shaking the thoughts from her mind, Mac continued on her drive home.
As Mac walked to her door, she heard low chatter. As she approached she saw Harriet and Bobbie standing there with big smiles.
"What are you two doing here?" She asked.
"Well tonight IS the night, is it not?" Bobbie responded.
"Ok, Mac, we have 2 hours" Harriet was bubbling.
"Actually, 1 hour and 57 minutes Harriet." Mac always has to be perfect with the time.
"So what ARE you doing here?" Mac asked again.
"Mac were are here to be your ladies in waiting." Harriet stated, "we have to get you perfect for tonight."
"And knock Harm's socks off his feet." Bobbie piped in.
"Hey," Mac said, "It's not like I haven't been on a date before and I know how to look good if I do say so myself."
"Oh no that's not what we meant." Harriet quickly apologized.
"Relax Harriet, I'm kidding and actually I am a bit nervous for some unknown reason. I'm glad you guys are here. But you have to leave before Harm comes." Both women rolled their eyes and they walked into Mac's apartment.
Harm's Apartment
Harm was at his apartment; he had showered and now standing in front of the mirror shaving. Humming no particular tune. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. What now? Who could that be? Making sure his towel was secure he walked over to the door. "Who is it?" He called.
"Harm open up, it's us," was the reply. Standing on the other side of the door was none other than Bud and Sturgis.
Somewhere between work and life, the three men had become like brothers. It was the same for each of their significant others, and now that they all had significant others.
"Ok, what are you guys doing here?" Harm asked.
"Well since Harriet and Bobbie are at Mac's we thought we would come here and lend some moral support," replied Bud.
"Exactly what do I need support for?" Harm asked.
"Well for starters," Sturgis said point at Harm's towel, "We could start with pants." Harm suddenly realized he was still standing there in his towel. He went to his bedroom to get dressed. After 10 minutes he returned to the living room where his friends were sitting.
"You're not wearing that are you?" Bud asked.
"What's wrong with this?" Harm snapped.
"Well, it's a bit dull Harm." Sturgis said.
"Gentlemen, my closet is yours. Obviously at 39 years old, I can't dress myself," and with that Harm sat on the couch.
Five minutes later Sturgis and Bud walked into the living room and handed Harm a different shirt and tie. In a silly voice Sturgis said "This will go better with your eyes."
Harm changed his shirt and tie and looked at the clock, "Well, it's 6:30 a half hour to go." And he started pacing.
Mac's Apartment
"Oh god, what have I gotten myself into," Mac asked neither friend in particular, as she finished with her hair.
"Mac relax, you need to get dressed. Although Harm probably wouldn't mind you showing up in your slip." Bobbie snickered.
Harriet brought a beautiful red silk dress from the closet.
"Harriet, I can't wear that, it's too much."
"Actually Mac, it's not too much at all. And with your skin tone and hair color, the red is perfect for you." Harriet replied matter of factly.
Mac put on the cocktail length off the shoulder red dress. Slipped into a pair of black sling back heels – she would only be 4 inches shorter than Harm tonight. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, Harriet was right this is the perfect dress. Bobbie and Harriet appeared behind her and smiled. The three friends stood there looking at Mac in the mirror. At this point it was hard to say which one of them was more excited.
"Ok, Harm will be here in 8 minutes, you guys need to leave." Mac said.
"No way, we're staying." Harriet replied.
"Besides," Bobbie said laughing "Sturgis and Bud are escorting him here." Mac looked at her friends and wondered what in the world was going on. It was a date, dinner with Harm no big deal. Why was everyone going crazy? She knew why, because she was absolutely crazy about this man and knew it might be the start of her future. Her mind was racing.
Then there was a knock at the door. "Its show time," Mac tried to say it very casually. She could not hide her excitement from Bobbie and Harriet.
"Oh, this is so exciting, like prom night." Harriet squealed."
"I'll get the door Mac" and Bobbie left the room.
Standing at the door was Harm, in a silver-gray suit with a blue shirt that matched his eyes perfectly and a tie that brought the whole outfit together. "Nice job" Bobbie mouthed to Sturgis who was standing behind Harm with Bud.
The three gentlemen walked in and Bobbie said, "Mac is just about ready Harm, I'll tell her you're here."
With that she turned to go get Mac, but was too late, Mac was walking into the living room. Harm's mouth dropped open. He had seen her dressed up before but this time it was different. This time she was dressed for him. Harm couldn't get any words out and it took a friendly shove from Bud to bring him back to his senses.
"Mac you look incredible. No…" Everyone just looked at Harm. "I mean Sarah, you are beautiful." Harriet and Bobbie looked at each other and sighed.
Mac giggled and said "Harm you look very handsome tonight, but please since when do you call me Sarah?"
At this point each couple was standing together. "Well, I guess we should get this show on the road." Remarked Sturgis.
"We?" Both Harm and Mac said.
"Stu old buddy, I think I can handle it from here." Laughed Harm.
"Come on guys let's get going, leave them to their hellos," said Harriet. The four friends left the apartment, smiling and obviously pleased with everything.
"Mac, I can't believe we are finally at this point." Harm said walking towards her.
"I know Harm, it seems like we waited forever." Mac replied. Leaning down Harm placed a soft tender kiss on Mac's lips and then handed her a single red rose.
"Hmmm, going cheap on me flyboy?" Mac teased.
"Not at all, this was the only prefect rose I could find, anything less than perfect would be unacceptable for you." Mac took the rose and blushed, was this really happening?
Outside Mac's Apartment
The four friends hurried down the stairs to the front of Mac's building, they were giddy and laughing like school children.
"This is going to be amazing." Harriet said.
"Do they have any idea?" Bobbie asked.
"Not a clue" replied the Admiral.
Sturgis turned to the Admiral and said "I was getting a bit worried sir, not sure if we were going to pull this off."
"Never a doubt in my mind Commander," the Admiral said with a smile.
Before they knew it, they were joined by Tiner and Gunny. "Did we miss it Sir?" asked Gunny.
"No you're right on time." Sturgis answered.
"This is like a movie," said Tiner.
"Well if any two people had more pulling for them it would be unreal," said Bobbie.
With that statement, it seemed as if the entire Corp converged on them. Suddenly, there was the Marine Corp band and the Naval Honor Guard lining up. It was an awesome sight. The Admiral had a smile on his face that matched no other ever seen. The group of friends stood there watching as Mac and Harm walked down the steps. They were stunned. Mac looked quizzically at Harm. Harm's eyes widened as he looked at her shaking his head. 'Not me' was what the look conveyed.
As they proceeded down the walkway, the honor guard drew their sabers and formed the traditional arch. Mac and Harm slowly walked through as the band began to play "They Way You Look Tonight" it was a magical moment. As they continued to the end of the honor guard, there was a limo waiting for them. They stopped and turned to look at their friends. They were all smiling, beaming actually.
It was the Admiral who spoke, "Enjoy yourselves tonight, and that's an order."
Before Mac entered the limo she turned to the Admiral and gave him a hug, she then looked at her friends and mouthed "Thank you." Harm was a bit overcome with emotion he looked at the Admiral and simply saluted. The two entered the limo and they were off.
The group stood there. Obviously pleased with themselves. "Sometimes its good be the boss," the Admiral laughed.
Harriet with tears in her eyes said "That was the most beautiful romantic scene I have ever seen."
"How are we going to top this?" Bud asked.
"With a wedding" Sturgis and Bobbie replied at the same time.
"McMurphy's?" Gunny said. The friends agreed and off they went.
"Bud call the sitter and let her know we will be home later and to feed Little AJ please." And with that the friends went to McMurphy's to celebrate their triumph.
Stay tuned for "The Date"