Coming Home: chapter two
See past disclaimers.
Notes: Ok, like I said, I'm knew to this so give me a break and all criticism, comments and suggestions are VERY welcome. I know this is short but I feel the need to post immediately. Smile. So, thanks to all of you who gave me reviews…it's so exhilarating! Who knew posting fanfic would be this much fun! I hope you enjoy!!
"Whoa! This may be a good Monday morning after all." Lieutenant Greggs exclaimed somewhat sarcastically as he watched a pretty, brown-haired woman approach the receptionist's desk. The woman had dark brown hair that fell to just below her shoulders with the ends flipped out. She had an olive-toned complexion that obviously had been exposed to the sun, even though it was early spring. She wore a pair of black cropped pants, a purple ¾ sleeved button down shirt and black sandals. She looked young, but there was a distance in her eyes that could not hide the many things this woman had been through. The young girl at her side had big eyes just like her mother except hers were not brown, but deep blue. Her hair, long and a few shades lighter than her mother's, cascaded around her face and shoulders in big curls that made her look older than her mere 4 years. The child wore a sleeveless sundress that had various patterns splattered on it and white sandals.
"Maybe she needs a lawyer. I know one who would be more than happy to help her out." Lt. Greggs muttered with an obliging tone to the group of men standing with him: Captain Sturgis Turner, Lt. White and Captain Rabb. All of the men except Greggs had their back to the receptionist's area.
"This is not a bar Lt", Cap. Turner warned, "we do not have relationships with clients, pretty or not." He finished his sentence with a joking smile on his face.
"If you'll excuse me gentlemen, I need to refill my coffee cup and then get back to work. Shouldn't you be doing the same, Lt.?" Harm gave the Lt. a pointed look and began to turn around towards the break room when the Lt. spoke.
"Captain, didn't you have a relationship with a client?" the Lt. was bordering on insubordination, if not already crossing the line. He had stumbled upon the case of a Navy Psychologist cleared of a DUI by a then Commander Rabb while doing research. Subsequently, he also stumbled upon the case of the doctor's murder where Rabb, the victim's ex-boyfriend, was a suspect. The Lt. knew he would be subject to the wrath of the Captain; but if suffering the wrath of the Captain allowed him to finally figure out what had plagued the poor man for so long, then it was a risk worth taking. Greggs was certain this was the incident that had changed the once pleasant man and he wanted to know once and for all.
Sturgis gaped at the young man. 'I know he's cocky and enjoys pushing the envelope but even he knows not to push that much. I hope Harm doesn't kill him or worse kill me for sending him to get the research.'
Harm faced the Lieutenant. and gave him a look that dared him to back away. "Where did you get that information, Lieutenant?" Harm growled while searching the Lieutenant's eyes.
"I…uh…" the Lieutenant stuttered then took a deep breath, swallowed and locked himself into the attention stance, "I was doing re-research, Sir."
"Research, Lieutenant? Research into my personal life, Lieutenant?" each time putting more emphasis on the word 'lieutenant'.
"Captain, I asked that the research be done for a case. Don't fault him for being a good investigator." Sturgis lowered his voice on the last part of his statement trying to calm the Captain and to show him the Lieutenant meant no harm.
Before Harm or Greggs could respond, Ensign Miller interrupted the three unaware of the situation. "Captain, Sir, there is a woman here who whishes to speak with you."
Harm answered while still keeping his eyes locked on the Lieutenant, "I only talk to people with appointments."
"I, I know that, Sir. But this woman says it's an emergency."
"If it's an emergency", Harm stressed emergency, "then call the police."
"Ms. Mackenzie seems desperate, Sir."
Harm looked at the Lieutenant. He always did a double take when someone said Sarah or Mackenzie but then he realized how foolish he was being. He had to stop getting his hopes up every time someone mentioned her name because he knew deep down that she was never coming back. "Tell her to schedule an appointment for later in the day." He looked pointedly at Ensign Miller.
"Yes Sir. How about a this afternoon?"
"I can't schedule her appointment." Harm spoke to the Ensign as though she were a child. "You need to ask this…Ms. Mackenzie…"
Ensign Miller interrupted, "Sarah. Her first name is Sarah, I believe, Sir."
This stopped Harm. He looked at the Ensign then turned around. As soon as he was facing the reception area, his eyes locked with hers. Harm's empty coffee mug shattered on the floor. A sharp intake of breath was followed by a very breathy, "Sarah".
"Oh God!" Sturgis murmured. Was that Mac? After all these years? These and other questions swirled around his head until somehow he managed to quietly speak. "Get the Admiral out here, Ensign. Now!"
Mac had always been able to feel when Harm was near and even after five years, she could feel his warm presence close. She slowly turned toward the office area of the bullpen and almost immediately her eyes found his. She took in a shaky breath and all of a sudden was having doubts as to whether this was the right thing to do or not. 'I should have called. Is that a happy surprise face or a what is she doing here surprise face.' Mac questioned. 'This was a mistake. We are- were, going to get married. What if he moved on? What will he think of Catherine?' All of these thoughts and more, that at one point she had no problems facing, now swirled in her head and made her want to turn around and run as fast as she could out of the building. Silently, she let Catherine slide out of her arms while still keeping her eyes focused on him. It seemed as though an eternity passed as they gazed at each other for the first time in five years, but in reality only a few quick seconds went by. In those mere few seconds, the bullpen quieted down. They had all heard Captain Rabb reaming out Lieutenant Greggs and when his tirade suddenly ended, they all turned their attention to the reason why.
Harm crossed the bullpen in record time. He didn't run but more like quickly floated over to where Mac stood. When he reached Mac he paused for just a second to touch her face with his hand before he grabbed her up and swung her around in a quick circle then placed her on her feet again. He had tears streaming down his face as he kissed her head and hugged her to him repeatedly.
"Oh God. Sarah, I can't believe you're alive." He managed to get out in between sobs.
Mac managed to loosen Harm's grasp on her enough to cup his face in her hands. "Harm, look at me. I'm here, I'm alive, and I'm ok." She looked into Harm's blue eyes and gave him a sincere and soothing smile.
As Mac smiled at Harm, he remembered how much he missed that smile. Over the years, he had done all he could to block out images of Mac but he never could forget her radiant smile. "Baby, I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, Harm." Mac said this with a sincere look on her face then broke free of his grasp. Clasping both of his hands in hers, she suddenly became very shy. "Is there someplace we can go to talk? I need to tell you a few things."
"My office is right over there. Same place it always was." Harm said jokingly, trying to cover the sudden feeling of dread that swept through his body.
As Harm turned towards his office, the quiet shocked state of the bullpen was shattered by "Attention on deck!"
When the Admiral was summoned out of his office somewhat reluctantly, the last thing he expected to see was Sarah Mackenzie standing in the middle of the bullpen. As he rounded the corner out of his office demanding to know why Captain Turner had summoned him, he saw Mac and understood why the bullpen had become deathly quiet. He stopped abruptly and said a calm "At ease" before he continued with Mac. "Oh my God! Mac, you're alive!" He walked over to where she stood and enveloped her in a big hug. "I…I can't believe this. Where…how…" unable to form a sentence he just stared at Mac as if she was the best thing he'd ever seen.
Sensing the need to explain, Mac gave a reassuring smile and sighed, "It's a long story, Sir. But basically I was kidnapped and now I'm free."
To say that everyone in the bullpen was shocked was the understatement of the year. If the Admiral hugging Mac and not being able to form a sentence didn't stun people then the complete change of Captain Rabb's mood from tyrannical to sobbing, all at the appearance of one woman, did. Who was this woman, they all thought, and what happened to her to make her appearance so emotional?
