2115 ZULU
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"What, did the bubbleheads decide they didn't need you?"
Turner grins. "My legal services were quite appreciated." He sets down his briefcase and switches his coat to his other arm.
"I bet."
Mac comes out of her office and heads to the copier, cutting in front of me.
"Excuse me, but I was just getting ready to use that."
"Sounded to me like you were talking to Sturgis. Hello, Commander," she greets, ignoring my pointed looks. She hands me the paper I had laid on the glass. "Here."
"Colonel," Turner replies.
Mac and I try to jostle for position in front of the copier when she pauses to change documents, but she manages to take advantage of my chivalry—after all I can't just shove her beside, I am an officer and gentleman--and finally I just give up. She doesn't look at me, but there's another smirk gracing her features.
"So, did anyone figure it out?" Turner asks.
"Figure what out?"
"The seats. Anyone figure out where you got them? And did you figure out who you're taking?" Sturgis glances at Mac and I, smiling expectantly. Mac appears to be avoiding eye contact with either one of us.
"Well, the Colonel had a couple of very persuasive arguments," I say, watching Mac closely. She stiffens a little and I think I see a faint blush sweep along her cheekbones.
"Did she?" Sturgis looks at Mac suspiciously.
Mac finally looks up and smiles beatifically at Sturgis. "Yes, Commander, I'd like to see you top it."
"It may not be so hard."
"Don't count on it, Sturgis," I warn.
Mac swivels her head towards me, and smiles. If I didn't know better I think she is relishing in her earlier behavior.
"It'll be a tough act to follow."
Mac grins wider and it's starting to disarm me a little. "What?"
"So, I've won?"
"I didn't say that."
"Sounded like it."
"I didn't hear that," Sturgis interjects, and I'm aware of his eyes following our exchange very closely. I'm also aware he seems amused and not at all surprised at Mac's apparent victory.
"So…how is it I didn't win?" Mac sticks her bottom lip out for a moment and I'm entertained by the thought that she's pouting for my benefit. However, I don't think I can wheedle a kiss out of her here in the bullpen, and with Sturgis present.
"You didn't guess who my benefactor was, remember?"
"But I upped Sturgis."
I cock my head to the side. "That you did, marine."
"Oh, and what were your arguments?" Sturgis asks Mac.
"Privileged, counselor," I say.
"That I'm far more enjoyable company than you," Mac says.
"You wound me, Colonel," Sturgis replies with mock hurt.
"Sorry," Mac says not sounding it in the least. If her argument is indeed that she is far more enjoyable company then she's certainly proved it.
"I see we're developing a 'Take no prisoners' approach to these seats." Sturgis comments. Mac smiles sweetly. I try to keep a neutral face, but I don't think I succeed.
"Well, Commander, I take football very seriously."
"I'll have to up the ante, seeing as the competition is fierce, but still undecided." He looks to me for confirmation. I nod, but it's already pretty much decided in my book.
Brilliant, beautiful marine who keeps me on my toes 1, old friend from the academy whom I will never have romantic feelings for 0.
Mac frowns in annoyance at me, and I find myself hastening to add, "But I've already got my 'vette back, Sturg, so I'm not sure what else you can tempt me with."
"We'll see, Harm, we'll see. I think I can make a pretty good deal."
Mac smirks. "Well, I hope you're as persuasive as I am, Commander, because I have no intentions on letting up now that I'm ahead." She flashes a mischievous smile at me and heads back into her office. I find I'm both thrilled and a little disconcerted.
Mac and I have always enjoyed a good challenge. If this turns out well, I may have to thank the Admiral and Tiner later for their 'inadvertent' slip.
If it turns out bad…I wonder if a pissed off, hurt, and disappointed Marine will be the least of my problems.
This time I don't bother hiding my grin.
********
Oh dear.
Now why did I go and say that to Harm? I have to admit this little game he has going is fun. A battle of wills. And Harm thinks he's going to win against a Marine.
Hell, his resolve seems to be weakening already, if his hints are any indication. If all it takes is just a little peck on the cheek…
Don't even go there, MacKenzie.
Well, if he insists on stringing me along with his decision on the seats, then I'm going to string him along with my…persuasions. They say the chase is half the fun of romance, although technically Harm and I have been engaging in the chase for the past several years, and it has been neither fun, nor has it yielded any romance.
Yet.
It's at least making work interesting. Hmm. Time to formulate my next plan of attack.
You shouldn't mess with Marines, Flyboy.
********
"Harm?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you have the Sorenson file?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, it's right…Yeah, I'm here," he says into the phone. "It's good to hear from you, too. Yeah? Send her my love."
I step into his office, knowing I should leave and give him some privacy, but I need the file.
And I'm nosy.
"No, work's been pretty busy. Yeah. Yeah." He laughs then sobers. He tilts his head towards me questioningly.
I quickly point to his desk. "Here?" I mouth. He shakes his head.
"Huh? No, she's…fine. They're still in Italy, I believe."
He must be talking to someone about his parents. Hmm…who knows him that well to ask about his mother? Renee met his mother before. But she's out of the picture now, so he wouldn't be talking to her.
"No, no, I'm not…don't start." He looks at me again with a peculiar expression. I sift through the files on his desk. He watches me for a moment as if waiting. Finally about four folders in, he points to a file. Sorenson.
Damn.
I force a smile and turn around to head out. He's still chatting to mystery caller.
"Yeah, I'm kind of looking forward to this weekend, too. It's been a while. I could use the break and the fresh air." I slow my steps. "It's been a while, not since the last time you and I drove up there. Yes, I remember her." Who? "Is she bringing her friend?" A pause. He laughs. "Right, just the two of us. Nice and cozy."
Who?! I'm almost to the door. I have to hear how this plays out.
"No. What kind of a surprise?" Pause. "I don't know. I'm sure she's—hang on a sec."
"Was there something else you needed, Mac?"
"Uh, no, no. I think everything's here." I am not so low as to listen in on my friend's conversation. I am not so low as to listen in on my friend's conversation. I am not—
"Oh. Well, then do you mind shutting the door on your way out?"
"No, of course not."
I shut it behind me and lean my head against it for a moment. Time to regroup.
JAG HQ
Falls Church, VA
"What, did the bubbleheads decide they didn't need you?"
Turner grins. "My legal services were quite appreciated." He sets down his briefcase and switches his coat to his other arm.
"I bet."
Mac comes out of her office and heads to the copier, cutting in front of me.
"Excuse me, but I was just getting ready to use that."
"Sounded to me like you were talking to Sturgis. Hello, Commander," she greets, ignoring my pointed looks. She hands me the paper I had laid on the glass. "Here."
"Colonel," Turner replies.
Mac and I try to jostle for position in front of the copier when she pauses to change documents, but she manages to take advantage of my chivalry—after all I can't just shove her beside, I am an officer and gentleman--and finally I just give up. She doesn't look at me, but there's another smirk gracing her features.
"So, did anyone figure it out?" Turner asks.
"Figure what out?"
"The seats. Anyone figure out where you got them? And did you figure out who you're taking?" Sturgis glances at Mac and I, smiling expectantly. Mac appears to be avoiding eye contact with either one of us.
"Well, the Colonel had a couple of very persuasive arguments," I say, watching Mac closely. She stiffens a little and I think I see a faint blush sweep along her cheekbones.
"Did she?" Sturgis looks at Mac suspiciously.
Mac finally looks up and smiles beatifically at Sturgis. "Yes, Commander, I'd like to see you top it."
"It may not be so hard."
"Don't count on it, Sturgis," I warn.
Mac swivels her head towards me, and smiles. If I didn't know better I think she is relishing in her earlier behavior.
"It'll be a tough act to follow."
Mac grins wider and it's starting to disarm me a little. "What?"
"So, I've won?"
"I didn't say that."
"Sounded like it."
"I didn't hear that," Sturgis interjects, and I'm aware of his eyes following our exchange very closely. I'm also aware he seems amused and not at all surprised at Mac's apparent victory.
"So…how is it I didn't win?" Mac sticks her bottom lip out for a moment and I'm entertained by the thought that she's pouting for my benefit. However, I don't think I can wheedle a kiss out of her here in the bullpen, and with Sturgis present.
"You didn't guess who my benefactor was, remember?"
"But I upped Sturgis."
I cock my head to the side. "That you did, marine."
"Oh, and what were your arguments?" Sturgis asks Mac.
"Privileged, counselor," I say.
"That I'm far more enjoyable company than you," Mac says.
"You wound me, Colonel," Sturgis replies with mock hurt.
"Sorry," Mac says not sounding it in the least. If her argument is indeed that she is far more enjoyable company then she's certainly proved it.
"I see we're developing a 'Take no prisoners' approach to these seats." Sturgis comments. Mac smiles sweetly. I try to keep a neutral face, but I don't think I succeed.
"Well, Commander, I take football very seriously."
"I'll have to up the ante, seeing as the competition is fierce, but still undecided." He looks to me for confirmation. I nod, but it's already pretty much decided in my book.
Brilliant, beautiful marine who keeps me on my toes 1, old friend from the academy whom I will never have romantic feelings for 0.
Mac frowns in annoyance at me, and I find myself hastening to add, "But I've already got my 'vette back, Sturg, so I'm not sure what else you can tempt me with."
"We'll see, Harm, we'll see. I think I can make a pretty good deal."
Mac smirks. "Well, I hope you're as persuasive as I am, Commander, because I have no intentions on letting up now that I'm ahead." She flashes a mischievous smile at me and heads back into her office. I find I'm both thrilled and a little disconcerted.
Mac and I have always enjoyed a good challenge. If this turns out well, I may have to thank the Admiral and Tiner later for their 'inadvertent' slip.
If it turns out bad…I wonder if a pissed off, hurt, and disappointed Marine will be the least of my problems.
This time I don't bother hiding my grin.
********
Oh dear.
Now why did I go and say that to Harm? I have to admit this little game he has going is fun. A battle of wills. And Harm thinks he's going to win against a Marine.
Hell, his resolve seems to be weakening already, if his hints are any indication. If all it takes is just a little peck on the cheek…
Don't even go there, MacKenzie.
Well, if he insists on stringing me along with his decision on the seats, then I'm going to string him along with my…persuasions. They say the chase is half the fun of romance, although technically Harm and I have been engaging in the chase for the past several years, and it has been neither fun, nor has it yielded any romance.
Yet.
It's at least making work interesting. Hmm. Time to formulate my next plan of attack.
You shouldn't mess with Marines, Flyboy.
********
"Harm?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you have the Sorenson file?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, it's right…Yeah, I'm here," he says into the phone. "It's good to hear from you, too. Yeah? Send her my love."
I step into his office, knowing I should leave and give him some privacy, but I need the file.
And I'm nosy.
"No, work's been pretty busy. Yeah. Yeah." He laughs then sobers. He tilts his head towards me questioningly.
I quickly point to his desk. "Here?" I mouth. He shakes his head.
"Huh? No, she's…fine. They're still in Italy, I believe."
He must be talking to someone about his parents. Hmm…who knows him that well to ask about his mother? Renee met his mother before. But she's out of the picture now, so he wouldn't be talking to her.
"No, no, I'm not…don't start." He looks at me again with a peculiar expression. I sift through the files on his desk. He watches me for a moment as if waiting. Finally about four folders in, he points to a file. Sorenson.
Damn.
I force a smile and turn around to head out. He's still chatting to mystery caller.
"Yeah, I'm kind of looking forward to this weekend, too. It's been a while. I could use the break and the fresh air." I slow my steps. "It's been a while, not since the last time you and I drove up there. Yes, I remember her." Who? "Is she bringing her friend?" A pause. He laughs. "Right, just the two of us. Nice and cozy."
Who?! I'm almost to the door. I have to hear how this plays out.
"No. What kind of a surprise?" Pause. "I don't know. I'm sure she's—hang on a sec."
"Was there something else you needed, Mac?"
"Uh, no, no. I think everything's here." I am not so low as to listen in on my friend's conversation. I am not so low as to listen in on my friend's conversation. I am not—
"Oh. Well, then do you mind shutting the door on your way out?"
"No, of course not."
I shut it behind me and lean my head against it for a moment. Time to regroup.