~*5*~
Mac jumped out of her seat and sent up a shout as Billy Joel took the stage to the strains of "Angry Young Man." Cutting her eyes to look up at Harm, she grinned. He leaned in close to her ear. "So you are a fan huh?" he said smugly. Mac shrugged and bumped a hip into his leg as the crowd got to its feet. Harm clenched his jaw and clapped along with audience to give his hands something to do. Other than grab her and drag her home—my home. Shaking the thought out of his head Harm calmed down as the riotous beat slowed into the soothing "Lullaby."
Mac let that same sad smile flit across her features because she didn't think Harm was looking. Good night, my angel, time to close your eyes and save these questions for another day. Mac looked up into the higher tier of the arena. She could easily imagine Harriet singing the sweet soothing tune to her son. A wistful sigh escaped her, and though no one could here it over the music, Harm saw it. He was intrigued by it. I think I know what you've been asking me. I think you know what I've been trying to say. I promised I would never leave you, and you should always know wherever you may go no matter where you are I never will be far away. Harm's throat closed up as he watched the emotions ripple over her face. The usual mask gone, Sarah McKenzie was a open book, and the things he read in her face—wants, desires, needs—it all shocked him. Then she opened her eyes and stared directly at him. One look rocked Harmon Rabb Jr's world totally. Unsure of what to do about it he reached out and wiped a single tear from her cheek. Quietly another sad smile passed over her face, and then the song was over, and she was the same enigmatic Mac. Behind them Sturgis and Bobbie watched intently drawing the Admiral's attention.
"Mmm." he groaned. Will those two ever stop causing me headaches? He rolled his eyes and cleared his throat looking pointedly at Bobbie and Commander Turner.
Four rows ahead Mac and Harm had tons of fun, listening to the music, to the other soldiers and sailors they laughed, joked and danced in the aisle along with hundreds of other service men and women.
All to soon the familiar strains of "Pianio Man" filled the arena, and after resounding applause Billy leaned into his microphone. "Thanks to all of you for everything you do to protect our country. You are a special group of people who deserved a night of fun, and maybe a few surprises." Then on cue a very average looking man entered stage left. Harriett looked at Bud wide-eyed. "D-do you know who that is?" she asked over the screaming crowd. Bud shook his head and looked confused. Tiner, equally lost, looked at him and shrugged. Then Bud noticed that Lt. Singer was just as amazed as Harriett—and totally speechless.
"Peter Gabriel." Harriett and Singer said in unison.
"Like 'Sledgehammer' Peter Gabriel?" Tiner asked.
The two women nodded silently, then like two teen agers they began jumping up and down squealing with delight.
On the stage two men nodded at one another in greeting. "Tonight all the guests are special. There was a young man who struck a cord with me though when he asked if I would play a song for his best friend." Pausing He placed his hands on the piano and played the opening cords of "An Innocent Man." "So this is for the Commander for his Marine." Billy announced and launched into the song, Peter Gabriel jumping in gladly.
In nine seats throughout the arena, the JAG ensemble stood slack jawed.
Sturgis looked at Bobbie. "Please, please tell me that wasn't you."
"I would, but I try not to lie." She grinned at him and craned to see the reaction on the faces of her, well, victims.
In the rows ahead. Mac looked up at Harm somewhere between truly touched and really peeved. "Please tell me you didn't do that."
Harm shook his head. "Wasn't me, but listen, Mac." She tried to shake him off, but she instead looked up at him. Listening to song she'd probably heard a hundred times she really heard the words for the first time and saw herself in the music.
Some people stay far away from the door If there's a chance of it opening up They hear a voice in the hall outside And hope that it just passes by
Some people live with the fear of a touch And the anger of having been a fool They will not listen to anyone So nobody tells them a lie
I know you're only protecting yourself I know you're thinking of somebody else
Someone who hurt you
Then she saw him in the music.
But I'm not above Making up for the love You've been denying you could ever feel
I'm not above doing anything To restore your faith if I can
I'm only willing to hear you cry Because I am an innocent man
I am an innocent man Oh yes I am
Her life had been so hard, so agonizing--
Some people see through the eyes of the old Before they ever get a look at the young
Some people say they will never believe Another promise they hear in the dark Because they only remember too well They heard somebody tell them before
Some people sleep all alone every night Instead of taking a lover to bed Some people find that it's easier to hate Than to wait anymore
Had he been trying to say it all along?
I know you don't want to hear what I say I know you're gonna keep turning away
But I've been there and if I can survive I can keep you alive
I'm not above going through it again I've not above being cool for a while
If you're cruel to me I'll understand
Some people run from a possible fight Some people figure they can never win
And although this is a fight I can lose The accused is an innocent man
Harm looked at Mac and searched her face, the wants, desires and needs were still in her eyes.
I am an innocent man Oh yes I am An innocent man
You know you only hurt yourself out of spite If you'd rather be a be a martyr tonight That's your decision
Harm felt the tremble pass through her as he laid a hand on her cheek. She sighed when his hand moved to cup the back of her neck.
But I'm not below Anybody I know If there's a chance of resurrecting your love
I'm not above going back to the start To find out where the heartache began
Some people hope for a miracle cure Some people just accept the world as it is
He pulled her mouth to his and delivered a gentle, quietly devastating kiss that had the soldiers sailors surrounding them sighing like old school romantics.
But I'm not willing to lay down and die Because I am an innocent man I am an innocent man
Oh yes I am An innocent man
Just as he pulled away from their whisper of a kiss the opening strains of another love song played. Harm pulled her to him and held on for dear life while they listened to Peter Gabriel sing:
Love I get so lost, sometimes
Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
When I want to run away
I drive off in my car
But whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
All my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes
Love, I don't like to see so much pain
So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
And all my instincts, they return
And the grand facade, so soon will burn
Without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light,
The heat I see in your eyes
In your eyes, In your eyes
In your eyes, In your eyes
In your eyes, In your eyes
A/N: Normally I avoid songfic, because I generally suck at it :), but this scenario kept running through my head along with these two songs. If it's overly sappy...sorry. I really am an old school romantic.
I wan going to leave it here, but if you want more, let me know. I'm sucker for reviews.
The songs belong to Billy Joel and Peter Gabriel respectively.
Hope you enjoyed.
~LaneWolf