Title: Mine
Summary: Mac has a stalker… (Harm/Mac Romance, Drama)
Part Thirteen – Him
Monday, March 11, 2002
She's right in front of me. I don't think I've ever been this close to her, and I feel like my heart is going to beat its way out of my chest. She's afraid, I realize, and I feel a tiny pang of remorse. She doesn't need to be scared of me – I'd never, ever hurt her.
But I can't blame her for being scared. This is all too soon. I hadn't planned on doing this today. I wanted more time for us to get to know one another before I made my move. But, it's like mama always said – "if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."
I have to admit that seeing Erin today threw me. "I'm here for a meeting with Commander Rabb." Hearing that voice was jarring enough. But hearing that voice say his name felt like plunging headfirst into the Matanuska River back home in Alaska. I kept my back to her, held my breath, and hoped she'd pass through without seeing me. But then the other guard dropped her ID, and it slid under my area.
"Hey, Tyler, can you grab that for me."
I cursed under my breath and kept my head down as I passed it to him, but she noticed me and audibly gasped. But before she could say anything, she had her ID back, the gate was lifted, and she was waved through. Waved through to see him.
I knew at that moment that I had to do something. Because if she said anything about me to him, he would know. And then it would be over. He'd have me questioned about 'breaking in' to her apartment and… getting to know her. He wants me out of the way, and he's powerful enough that he could make it happen. So, I had to do this. I had to move quickly. And when I saw Sarah leaving JAG not even an hour later, I knew I finally had my chance.
I didn't think. I didn't plan. I didn't even tell my coworker I was leaving. I mumbled an, 'I don't feel well; be right back,' and just left. I left! I ran to my car, and I followed her. After a few turns, I realized she was going back to her apartment, and then I just took my time. I took a detour that helped me bypass all the traffic, and I made it to her place before she did. I stayed in my car until she was inside, and then I hurried after her. I knocked once but didn't get an answer, so I moved down the hall a bit and waited for her to reappear.
I feel a rush when she finally does. Here it is – my moment. This is the moment that I've been waiting for for months. Almost a year to the day from the first time I saw her at the Surface Warfare Ball.
"Hello, Sarah."
She's a little pale, her eyes are wide with surprise, and she's just so beautiful. I step a little closer to her, and she takes another step back – but it's pointless because there isn't anywhere for her to go, and her back makes contact with her door. I watch as she looks down at the keys in her hand and then at the weapon holstered at my hip. I cover it with my hand, and her eyes meet mine.
"What do you want?"
Her eyes move to the gun again, and she swallows. "You." I reach up and brush my fingers over her cheek. She flinches, but I ignore it. She's afraid; I have to keep telling myself that. It will take time for her to warm up to me the way she warmed up to him. "I've always wanted you; from the very first moment I saw you."
She looks up and down the hallway, and she swallows again. She opens her mouth, and for a second, I think she's going to scream. But before she can make a move, I pull the gun out of its holster and point it at her. Her mouth closes, and I hate myself for doing this to her. I know she'll forgive me someday – when she realizes why I had to do this. Maybe it'll even be a funny story we tell our kids one day.
"Why don't we go inside," I say. I try to stay calm; keep my voice even and steady.
"Absolutely not," she says. Her eyes flash, and I feel a rush of adrenaline. She's feisty, and I've always loved that about her.
I touch the weapon to her chest. "Sarah," she flinches again, and her eyes narrow, "I really think we should go inside." She opens her mouth again, and I cover it with my other hand. God, this is a rush. This is the first time I've touched her mouth, and it's giving me lovely thoughts… "If you were going to scream, you would have already done so. But who would come? Old Mrs. Hannigan? Didn't she just have a knee replacement?" I uncover her mouth, and I smile. "Let's go inside, okay?"
She looks up and down the hallway again, puts the key back in the lock, and unlocks the door. I keep the gun raised as she steps inside. I lock the door behind us and take in her space. It looks different as an invited guest, and I smile. "I like your place," I say.
"How many times have you been in here?"
I frown and move closer to her. I wish I could set the gun down, but she looks pissed, and I don't entirely trust her yet. "Just once – Saturday." Then I have a thought, and I frown. Did she even make it to her desk this morning? Maybe she hasn't gotten my note or my gift. "Didn't you get my note? My gift?"
"Fuck your note and your gift," she spits.
I wince at her profanity. Ladies aren't supposed to speak like that, and I wave the gun at her. "You will not use language like that in front of me."
"Fuck. You."
I step closer, grab the front of her uniform, and pull her close. "You will not use that language," I repeat. "I will not stand for that. Do you understand me?" She doesn't respond, and I tighten my grip.
"I understand," she finally says through clenched teeth.
"Good," I say. I let go, and she takes a step back. We both take a few deep breaths to calm ourselves down. "Now, I'm going to need you to call your commanding officer." Her eyes go wide, and keeping the gun raised, I move over to her cordless phone and pick it up. "You are going to call him and tell him that you had a family emergency and you'll need a few days leave."
She looks confused and hesitantly takes the phone from me. "You want me to call Admiral Chegwidden?"
"Yes," I say. "Because if you don't, people are going to come looking for you, and we can't have that." I gesture to the phone with the gun. "Call him. And don't even think about telling him anything else."
"Like the fact that a member of security forces is holding me at gunpoint after spending months stalking me?"
I clench my jaw. "Yes, like that." She begins to dial, and I wave the gun at her. "Speakerphone." She swallows hard, blushes as she ends the call, and begins to dial again. I knew it. I knew she'd try to call him.
"It needs to be on the cradle for the speaker phone to work." I follow her to the table and watch as she sets the phone on the cradle. It only rings twice before a cheerful young man answers.
"Admiral Chegwidden's office – Petty Officer Tiner speaking."
"Hi, Tiner, it's Colonel MacKenzie. May I speak to the Admiral? It's urgent."
"Let me see if he's available. Hold on one minute, okay?"
She nods even though he can't see her and clears her throat. "Thank you, Tiner."
Light-hold music plays, and it takes forever for someone to come back to the line, and I begin to get nervous. Has she been missed already?
Finally, Tiner comes back to the phone, and I let out a breath. "Sorry about the wait, Colonel. He was on the other line with the SECNAV. I'm putting you through now."
The Admiral's voice is gruff when they're connected, and the sound makes me flinch. I'm thankful I don't report to him. "What's going on, Colonel?"
She glances at me and then closes her eyes. "Sir, I got a call about a family member, and I had to leave quickly. I'm not sure how long this will take; maybe a day or two. But I have court at 1400, and I won't be there."
He hesitates and then clears his throat. "Colonel, I've never heard you mention any family in the area."
She swallows, and her fingers move to a framed photo sitting near the phone. I look at the picture and see it's of a younger Sarah with a balding, older man. "It's my uncle, sir. His name is Frank Coster. Commander Rabb has met him in case you have any questions."
"I don't doubt your integrity, Colonel. But leaving like this is completely inappropriate, and we will have a conversation about this when you're back."
She flinches and nods. "I understand, sir. Thank you."
The line goes dead, and the fear is back on her face as the dial tone fills the room. Then she looks at me – at my gun – and crosses her arms over her chest. "What happens now?"
End Part Thirteen
