~~~~Part 8~~~~
0745 est
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Harm's apartment
North of Union Station
(Harm's POV)
Oh, what is that noise? I keep reaching behind me and hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock, but I'm still hearing a ringing. Suddenly, I realize that it's my cell phone sitting on the bedside table. I snatch it up and answer groggily,
"Rabb."
There's just silence at the other end, so I say,
"Hello?"
{"Umm...Harm, what are you doing at Mac's? You sound like you just woke up."}
"What? I'm not at Mac's, she left her cell phone in my car last night...is this Chloe?"
{"Yes, and Mac told me to call her cell phone, because the phone company is working on the connection in her apartment building."}
"Oh...well, she didn't tell me about it. She was asleep when I dropped her off this morning."
{"Oh, this morning, huh? What did you two do last night?"}
"As a matter of fact, we went to dinner and then saw a late movie. Not that it's really any of your concern, young lady."
{"Oh, come on, Harm. I'm fifteen...practically an adult!"}
"Practically doesn't count."
{"Alright, but I'm still going to ask Mac."}
"Fine, I'm sure she'll tell you the same thing...nothing happened."
{"Okay, well I'm going to let you go bring Mac her phone, okay? I'll talk to you later, Harm."}
"Alright, bye, Chloe."
We both hang up, and I get up and start getting ready for my day with Mac. I can't wait.
0851 est
Mac's apartment
(Harm's POV)
And the home team scores again! I'm early. That's got to be a Rabb record. I knock on the door to her place, anxiously waiting to hear her reaction.
I wait for about thirty seconds and, not hearing any noise coming from inside, I knock again, this time a little louder. When I still receive no answer, I get worried, and I fish my keys out of my pocket and unlock her door.
I cautiously open the door, calling, "Mac, I know I'm here early, but you didn't answer the door, so I just let myself in, I hope you don't mind..." I look around and notice that her bedroom door is still closed. "Sarah?"
I make my way to the door and knock. I'm reaching for the handle when all of a sudden, the door swings open and I am graced with the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on. Standing before me is Sarah MacKenzie clothed in water droplets and a little white towel. If I were to die this very instant, which is seeming like a likely possibility, because she knows I'm staring, I would die the happiest man ever.
"Okay, opening door, bad idea." "Harm, you're 4 minutes and 23 seconds early...that's got to be a record for you."
Okay, I know I'm just standing here like an idiot. I have to say something. "Yeah, well, I like to keep you on your toes." I just stand there staring at her face. It's all I can do to keep my eyes from wandering south.
"Why is he just standing there? I mean, it can't be that exciting staring at his half-naked partner fresh from the shower." Oh, I beg to differ.
"Okay, well, I guess I'll let you get dressed, then. I'll just put on a pot of coffee, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks, that would be great." She closes the door and I turn to head to the kitchen to start brewing. I make sure to put a little extra ground coffee beans, knowing my Marine likes it strong. I laugh to myself. If she ever heard me call her 'my Marine,' she would kick my six.
"What's funny, sailor?"
I turn around and stare at the now (unfortunately) clothed Marine. "Nothing."
She raises one eyebrow in a disbelieving gesture, but says nothing more on the subject.
"So, where's my coffee?"
"Brewing," I smartly respond. She gives me a sarcastic smile, and then reaches around me to grab a coffee cup out of the dish drain. I can smell her shampoo and body wash. Vanilla. Heavenly.
"Mmm...he's wearing that cologne again. God, I love that smell."
In a few minutes, the coffee is finished brewing, and I pour each of us a cup and we head over to the couch.
She speaks up, "So, what are we doing first?"
"I don't know, they're your errands. You tell me what we should do first."
"Alright, we'll get dry cleaning and laundry done first, then groceries...all of that in your SUV...then we'll take my car and get it washed and waxed-oh, I need to call Chloe! You have my cell, right?"
"Oh, yeah. She, um, called...this morning. About 0745."
"Uh-oh." "What did she say?"
"Well, she asked why I was at your house so early in the morning, sounding like I just woke up."
"Yikes!" "Oh, and what did you say?"
Oh, this is too good an opportunity to pass up. I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively and put on my patented pilot smile.
"Harm, quit messing around, what did you tell her?" Ooh, this is interesting...borderline pleading with just a hint of whining...very un- Marine of her.
"Oh, relax. I told her we went out to dinner and saw a late movie and that I dropped you off and you left your cell phone in the car. No problem."
"Yeah, except she'll think something more happened because she is dead set on the idea that we're in love with each other." "Alright, let me just call her. Where's my phone?"
I just stand there staring at her. Maybe I didn't hear her thoughts right.
"Harm. Harm? Harm!" I'm jolted out of my musings.
"Huh? Oh, phone...umm...it's in..." Okay, it's on the tip of my tongue. Luckily, I don't have to search for the word anymore, because my pocket starts ringing with the distinct sounds of Mac's phone. "Pocket! Heh, it's in my...pocket...here you go." I hand her the phone and she answers it and starts talking to Chloe, and I'm left alone with my thoughts.
0745 est
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Harm's apartment
North of Union Station
(Harm's POV)
Oh, what is that noise? I keep reaching behind me and hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock, but I'm still hearing a ringing. Suddenly, I realize that it's my cell phone sitting on the bedside table. I snatch it up and answer groggily,
"Rabb."
There's just silence at the other end, so I say,
"Hello?"
{"Umm...Harm, what are you doing at Mac's? You sound like you just woke up."}
"What? I'm not at Mac's, she left her cell phone in my car last night...is this Chloe?"
{"Yes, and Mac told me to call her cell phone, because the phone company is working on the connection in her apartment building."}
"Oh...well, she didn't tell me about it. She was asleep when I dropped her off this morning."
{"Oh, this morning, huh? What did you two do last night?"}
"As a matter of fact, we went to dinner and then saw a late movie. Not that it's really any of your concern, young lady."
{"Oh, come on, Harm. I'm fifteen...practically an adult!"}
"Practically doesn't count."
{"Alright, but I'm still going to ask Mac."}
"Fine, I'm sure she'll tell you the same thing...nothing happened."
{"Okay, well I'm going to let you go bring Mac her phone, okay? I'll talk to you later, Harm."}
"Alright, bye, Chloe."
We both hang up, and I get up and start getting ready for my day with Mac. I can't wait.
0851 est
Mac's apartment
(Harm's POV)
And the home team scores again! I'm early. That's got to be a Rabb record. I knock on the door to her place, anxiously waiting to hear her reaction.
I wait for about thirty seconds and, not hearing any noise coming from inside, I knock again, this time a little louder. When I still receive no answer, I get worried, and I fish my keys out of my pocket and unlock her door.
I cautiously open the door, calling, "Mac, I know I'm here early, but you didn't answer the door, so I just let myself in, I hope you don't mind..." I look around and notice that her bedroom door is still closed. "Sarah?"
I make my way to the door and knock. I'm reaching for the handle when all of a sudden, the door swings open and I am graced with the most beautiful sight I have ever laid eyes on. Standing before me is Sarah MacKenzie clothed in water droplets and a little white towel. If I were to die this very instant, which is seeming like a likely possibility, because she knows I'm staring, I would die the happiest man ever.
"Okay, opening door, bad idea." "Harm, you're 4 minutes and 23 seconds early...that's got to be a record for you."
Okay, I know I'm just standing here like an idiot. I have to say something. "Yeah, well, I like to keep you on your toes." I just stand there staring at her face. It's all I can do to keep my eyes from wandering south.
"Why is he just standing there? I mean, it can't be that exciting staring at his half-naked partner fresh from the shower." Oh, I beg to differ.
"Okay, well, I guess I'll let you get dressed, then. I'll just put on a pot of coffee, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks, that would be great." She closes the door and I turn to head to the kitchen to start brewing. I make sure to put a little extra ground coffee beans, knowing my Marine likes it strong. I laugh to myself. If she ever heard me call her 'my Marine,' she would kick my six.
"What's funny, sailor?"
I turn around and stare at the now (unfortunately) clothed Marine. "Nothing."
She raises one eyebrow in a disbelieving gesture, but says nothing more on the subject.
"So, where's my coffee?"
"Brewing," I smartly respond. She gives me a sarcastic smile, and then reaches around me to grab a coffee cup out of the dish drain. I can smell her shampoo and body wash. Vanilla. Heavenly.
"Mmm...he's wearing that cologne again. God, I love that smell."
In a few minutes, the coffee is finished brewing, and I pour each of us a cup and we head over to the couch.
She speaks up, "So, what are we doing first?"
"I don't know, they're your errands. You tell me what we should do first."
"Alright, we'll get dry cleaning and laundry done first, then groceries...all of that in your SUV...then we'll take my car and get it washed and waxed-oh, I need to call Chloe! You have my cell, right?"
"Oh, yeah. She, um, called...this morning. About 0745."
"Uh-oh." "What did she say?"
"Well, she asked why I was at your house so early in the morning, sounding like I just woke up."
"Yikes!" "Oh, and what did you say?"
Oh, this is too good an opportunity to pass up. I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively and put on my patented pilot smile.
"Harm, quit messing around, what did you tell her?" Ooh, this is interesting...borderline pleading with just a hint of whining...very un- Marine of her.
"Oh, relax. I told her we went out to dinner and saw a late movie and that I dropped you off and you left your cell phone in the car. No problem."
"Yeah, except she'll think something more happened because she is dead set on the idea that we're in love with each other." "Alright, let me just call her. Where's my phone?"
I just stand there staring at her. Maybe I didn't hear her thoughts right.
"Harm. Harm? Harm!" I'm jolted out of my musings.
"Huh? Oh, phone...umm...it's in..." Okay, it's on the tip of my tongue. Luckily, I don't have to search for the word anymore, because my pocket starts ringing with the distinct sounds of Mac's phone. "Pocket! Heh, it's in my...pocket...here you go." I hand her the phone and she answers it and starts talking to Chloe, and I'm left alone with my thoughts.