0724 ZULU
MAC'S APARTMENT
GEORGETOWN
The light was shining into Mac's bedroom through her window. She woke up to find that Harm was no longer lying next to her. She got up and walked into the kitchen where she saw Harm cooking breakfast.
"Good morning Ninja Girl. I'm glad that you decided to join the rest of the world."
"Harm it's 0724. How long have you been up?"
"Long enough to get a shower, go for a run, and start breakfast."
"I'm going to go back to sleep and try waking up again." Mac turned around and headed towards her bedroom.
"Why? Don't you want some of my breakfast? I promise it's not vegetarian."
"You're not always like this in the morning are you?"
"Typically no, it's just that we have to be at the airport in like two hours and I didn't want to be late."
"I really need to try waking up again. Are you Palmer?"
"No, I'm just excited about us spending some time together and I want all of it to start as soon as possible."
"Okay. I'm going to go and get a shower and then I'll be back."
"Alright, breakfast should be done by then."
Fifteen minutes later, Mac comes back and Harm is getting ready to sit down to eat breakfast. "I'm glad you decided to join me."
"I'm glad you decided to make breakfast, it looks great."
"Thanks. How'd you sleep last night?"
"Well, thank you. And you?"
"Good. After I get my shower and clean up from breakfast do you want to leave for the airport?"
"Yeah sure, but you don't have to clean up I will. I mean it's only fair. You made breakfast and I wash the dishes."
"It's up to you."
"Alright."
"This is really good, do you think you could teach me how to cook?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, could you?"
"Sure, I can when we're at my mom's.
"You don't mind?"
"No, I like to cook. You know, there's a lot you don't know about me. Besides the jet-jock, egotistical, brilliant aviator turned lawyer, I do a lot of other stuff."
"Really, like what?"
"You'll find out later. I mean you're not just the brilliant lawyer that you are right? What ever happened to the paleontology? Did you just stop?"
"I guess. I never really thought about it much."
"But don't you miss it?"
"Yeah."
"Well then why don't you start back?"
"I don't know, maybe I will."
"How about this, I'll teach you to cook and you'll teach me about the paleontology stuff."
"Okay, it's a deal."
"Alright, I'll be ready in a little while."
Fifteen minutes later, Harm cam out of the shower dressed in blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and brown flip flops. Mac was sitting on the couch drinking some water. "Alright, Ninja girl. Are you ready to go yet?"
"Yeah, I'm really looking forward to spending time with you."
"Me too. We should do it more often. Like we used to, as long as you don't get in the way of cars."
"Hey, I didn't ask you to jump in the way of the car and get hit."
"Well I wasn't going to let you get hit."
"Why not? I'm a Marine Harm-"
"I know Mac. I've heard the speech before. I just care about you a lot and I'd rather be hurt any day as opposed to you."
"But I feel guilty."
"Well don't. And we need to leave now if we're going to make the flight."
"Alright sailor, let's roll."
0859 ZULU
DULLES INTERNATIONAL
WASHINGTON D.C.
"We have forty-five minutes to do whatever Mac."
"Let's go shopping."
"Shopping?"
"Yeah, you know, you walk around and buy stuff?"
"No kidding?"
"I'm serious flyboy. Let's go and get Little AJ a Marine shirt."
"If it's Navy you've got a deal."
"How about both?"
"That could work too." Harm and Mac went in and out of shops looking for T-shirts for Little AJ. About forty-five minutes later they had found Little AJ a Navy and Marine shirt and they were getting ready to board their plane. "Have I told you how much I'm looking forward to this?"
"Yes you have, but so am I."
"Are you worried about meeting my mom and Frank?"
"How'd you know?"
"Mac, I know you. Come here." Harm lifted the arm rest that separated them and let Mac lean back on him as much as she could. "Don't worry about okay? I promise you that they already love you, I mean my mom's been begging me to get you to come and meet her since I told her about you. Just trust me."
"I would with my life."
"Good, then this should be no problem."
Two and a half hours later they were landing and a flight attendant was trying to get them to wake up. "Sir, ma'am you need to put your seatbelts on for landing."
"Mac, Mac, we're getting ready to land."
"Okay, thanks. You make a good pillow, but I already knew that."
"I'm here for your service. Let's go find mom and Frank. Don't worry, they'll love you."
"I believe you."
Harm and Mac got off the plane and they immediately saw Trish and Frank. "Darling how are you?"
"I'm doing good mom. I'd like you to meet Sarah mom, Frank."
"It's so good to finally see you in person dear. How was your flight?"
"It was good ma'am."
"Please, call me Trish."
"And me Mac."
"How are you doing Harm?"
"I'm good Frank. It's good to see you."
"You too son."
"Well, now that we've all met, what do you say I take you and Mac home?"
"That'd be great because I'm starved and tired."
"That's my hungry Marine for you. Come on Mac." Harm picked up their luggage and put his arm around Mac's waist.
"You know dear, you and Mac would make a lovely couple."
"Well mom, we are."
"You finally did it Harmon?"
"Yeah."
"Oh dear that's great!" She grabbed Harm and Mac and gave them a big bear hug. "When did you tell her dear?"
"Yesterday."
"I'm so happy for you two."
About forty-five minutes later, they were pulling up in front of Harm's mom's house. "Harm this is where you grew up?"
"Yeah, when I wasn't with gramps and grams."
"This is amazing."
"Wait until you see the inside and the view from the back." They all walked inside and Harm showed her around. "This was my room when I was little."
"Harm it's…exactly how I thought it would be."
"Airplanes everywhere?"
"Well you are a flyboy."
"You can either stay in here with me or take one of the guest bedrooms."
"Your bed's a little small."
"Then I'll move into the guest bedroom with you. Come on, I'll go show you the back."
"Harm this is beautiful."
"I know. I love going on the beach in the morning for runs and watching the sun rise."
"Is my Harm getting sentimental in his old age?"
"Old…"
"Well you are almost forty."
"I bet I can still beat you in a race though."
"Yeah, right."
"Hey, do you not remember JAG-A-THON? I would've really beaten you if I wouldn't have taken that three minute handicap."
"I'll take it this time."
"Oh no, then when I win you'll say you would've won if you wouldn't have given me the handicap."
"We'll see in the morning."
"0400 sharp. Loser makes breakfast and the winner gets to set the activities for the day."
"Deal."
"Deal, I can't wait until you see what I have planned. Come on, I think mom and Frank are getting ready to leave."
"Okay."
"Harm, Mac, we're going to leave now. What do you two have planned for tomorrow?"
"Harm's challenged me to a race at 0400 in the morning."
"Well I wouldn't have if you wouldn't have called me old."
"You two be safe. We'll call you as soon as we land. Have a good time."
"Bye mom, bye Frank."
"Bye son."
Harm's parents left and he and Mac had the whole house to themselves. "You said you were hungry, I'll make us dinner."
"That's sounds great."
"What do you want?"
"Whatever you feel like making."
"Okay. I'm going to go and get a shower and change into something comfortable."
"Alright, I'll be down here." Fort-five minutes later dinner was ready. Harm had made himself a salad and he made Mac a steak with potatoes. He went upstairs to change into some sweatpants and to tell Mac that she could eat. "Hey Mac, I'm done with dinner. Mac?" Harm walked into her bedroom and saw her sleep on the bed. Hey Mac, do you want to get up and eat?"
"Huh? Where am I?"
"Your with me at my mom's house. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I guess I was a lot more tired than I thought I was. Did you say something about eating?"
"Yeah, I made you a steak and some potatoes."
"That sounds delicious."
"I'm going to go and change into some sweatpants."
"Alright, I'll be downstairs. A few minutes later harm came downstairs in some navy blue sweatpants with a T-shirt on. "Hey is there a stereo down here?"
"Yeah, it's in this cabinet. I think I might've left a few of my CD's here the last time I came."
Harm got up to put one of his CD's in the changer. "Harm this is delicious."
"You forgot what a good cook I was didn't you?"
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Well you can look forward to more of my cooking."
"You know I will."
After they had finished eating and cleaning up, they went into the living room. "Hey Mac do you want to watch some T.V.? You can pick."
"Sure, let's see what's on."
Harm and Mac settled down on the couch to watch Top Gun. "This is kind of like old times don't you think."
"Yeah, except we're at your mom's house and we don't have court tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"I have something really embarrassing to admit to you."
"What is it?"
"When you left JAG to go back flying I would sometimes watch "Top Gun" and "A Few Good Men", just to remind me of you."
"Really?"
"Yeah, do you think it's stupid?"
"No, because when I packed to leave, I took one of your shirts because it smelled like you."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Why did it take us so long to get to where we are?"
"Because of miscommunication and my fears. But you know what?"
"What?"
"It makes the end result so much sweeter."
"That's true. And you know what?"
"What?"
"I'm really enjoying spending this time together and we've only been here for half of a day."
"Yeah I know. I love you Sarah."
"I love you too Harm." And those were the last words that were said for the evening. Mac fell asleep in Harm's arms watching "Top Gun" just like old times. They had no idea of the things that were to come during the next week.
Okay, Sorry it took me so long to update this, but I had a problem with my wrist and I couldn't type. Let me know what you think. I could use some ideas for the next few days. I might be able to finish it before I have to go back to school next year.