Title: Chances Lost (Webb)
Author: Penne
E-mail: pennenew@aol.com
Rating: G, R
Classification: Mac/Webb?
Spoilers: Jagathon
Summary: Alternate outcomes to pre-Jagathon. Webb version.
Disclaimer: I don't claim to own these characters, please don't sue.
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Mac stood at the start line focussing on the race she had ahead of her. She felt pretty good considering all that had happened in the past 24 hours, and was driven by an intense need to beat Harm that she didn't care to analyse. So engrossed was her concentration upon the race she missed her partner's approach.
"Hi Mac."
She swung around to face him, surprise and relief flooded through her as none of the awkwardness she had anticipated arose. She cocked her head, "Hey Harm. You ever sat and counted out six minutes?" The accompanying smile was teasing. She watched with astonishment and interest as he coyly returned the smile.
They were relieved of any further conversation by Harriet interrupting them.
"Ah, Sir, Ma'am, it's nearly time." She waited expectantly.
"OK Thanks Harriet." Mac frowned worriedly as the Lieutenant stood her ground. "Was there anything else?"
"No Colonel, but I guess you better come over to the start now." Harriet's expressionless face immediately reminded her of Webb's inscrutable work mode. She shrugged at Harriet's uncharacteristic behaviour.
Harm caught Mac's arm as she passed him. "Good Luck Mac."
She turned towards him to find herself much closer to him than she had anticipated. She looked at him and saw the worry etched onto his face and momentarily her face flickered with the shock she felt. She kept her voice low so as not to be heard by anyone else. "You too Harm. I wish you luck with everything."
"Everything?" The pitch of his voice betrayed his fear.
"Your future Harm. I wish you all the best."
He looked shell-shocked. "But……"
"No Harm. Not now. It's too late." She smiled sadly and squeezed his hand briefly before she turned away.
The Admiral's careful gaze took in his staff, in various stages of preparation for the race. He felt proud of the group of people under his command. Except a few notable exceptions (his gaze currently resting on Lt. Singer), they were a wonderful and dedicated crew. His curiosity was peaked at Lt. Singers strange facial expression 'Oh my God - she's smiling!' He was interested to see who could be creating such an effect over the ambitious blonde and moved so the object of her admiration was in view. 'Webb!' He approached the group quietly as a disturbed looking Webb left with Lt. Sims.
"Lt. Singer are you alright?" The ever-pleasant Lt. Roberts enquired.
She crossed her arms and looked at him condescendingly. "Just fine Lieutenant. Why do you ask?"
"You look rather flushed."
"I'm just fine, thank you. I am fairly sure you will truly know the meaning of the word 'flushed' by the end of the day." She smirked.
Bud only smiled in return. "I am sure you are right Lauren." He turned to leave; however last minute turned back. "Good luck Lieutenant……"
"I don't need it, I am an accomplished runner." She quipped.
"No, I meant with Clayton Webb," he paused, "but I doubt all the luck in the world will get you what you want there." He smiled pleasantly and left.
The Admiral barely controlled himself from laughing out loud. Lt. Singer huffed angrily and spun around smack into her CO. She froze and slowly raised her eyes to his.
"Sorry Sir." She hurried away as Lieutenant Sims returned with the Colonel in tow.
"OK Ladies." Harriet raised her voice. "Take your places…….."
Harm pushed himself to a ridiculous extent in order to try and catch up to his partner. He couldn't care a less about winning, but he was desperate to talk to the woman he now was willing to admit he loved. He refused to believe what Mac had said before the race – it couldn't be too late. He wouldn't let it.
He was getting light headed from the exertion, however, despite Harriet and the Admiral's repeated protests, he refused to even slow his pace a fraction. He could finally see her in the distance – she and Sturgis appeared to be pacing against each other. A smile (which due to his level of effort looked more like a grimace) crossed his face and he endeavoured to speed up even further.
This proved to be his downfall……….
Mac stretched herself as far as she could as she crossed the line, took a few more slowing steps and turned to see who won, breathing heavily.
Harriet's frown conveyed her bewilderment to the two JAG lawyers in front of her. "I-I just don't know." She looked apologetic.
"Well Colonel, I am happy to call it a draw if you are." Sturgis panted.
Mac smiled and held out her hand to him. "Deal."
"Well then congratulations to you both." Harriet was relieved.
"Colonel!" The Admiral ran up. "Come with me quickly." He tried to catch his breath. "The Commander has collapsed."
"Harm? Where is he?" Mac asked frantically as she fell into step behind the Admiral as he set off. "You left him alone?" She cried incredulously, however the look that she received quelled her tirade. "I am sorry Sir. I didn't mean that – I am just worried."
The Admiral only nodded his acceptance and increased the pace. Having had a few minutes rest she kept up easily. "He's with Webb."
The Colonel's head snapped around. "Webb?"
He led them around a bend and she gasped at the sight in front of her as she pulled up. The corpsman was checking blood pressure, and Webb was assisting in administering oxygen to a rather battered looking Harm. Webb looked up as she advanced.
"How's he doing?" Her gaze flickered between Harm and Webb.
Webb nodded. "OK. Better now. I am sure he will appreciate you being here for him." His manner was impartial.
"What happened?" She came closer and took the hand Harm wearily held out to her. She noticed Webb's expression harden slightly.
The Admiral, who had mastered his breathing, answered. "He was pushing himself too hard." He paused and lowered his voice, unsure how to continue in light of the previous night's events. [Please note you will have to read Chances Lost (the original, which is posted separately,) in order to understand this reference.] "I gather he was trying to catch up to you Mac." He looked from the Colonel who looked upset, to Webb who got up and walked away under the guise of talking to the medic. "As far as we can tell he took it too far and blacked out. The cuts and bumps are from when he fell."
Mac turned her attention to her partner. A frown of concern furrowed her brow: "Harm." She pressed her lips together. "You feeling any better?"
He nodded his head vigourously and attempted to remove the oxygen mask but she stilled his movements. "Do me a favour Flyboy?" She waited for his nod, "just be a good patient for once." She settled the mask back into place and smiled encouragingly.
The corpsman came over. "The ambulance is here Admiral."
"Thank you." The Admiral smiled at the young man whilst also putting a firm hand on Harm's shoulder to keep him in place, he then turned to the Commander. "You WILL go to hospital to be checked out thoroughly. That is an order Commander."
Harm's eyes widened over the top of the mask. Then he sagged in defeat, he didn't have the energy to go up against the Admiral right now. Both men turned their attention to Mac, who stood shivering.
"Mac go home and change – you can check in with Harm afterwards." As she opened her mouth to protest he cut her off. "Again. An order." He wished he was in uniform to drive home the message further, it was hard to muster authority in a sweaty T-shirt and shorts. He raised his voice: "Webb!"
The spy looked over expectantly.
"Make sure the Colonel goes home and changes."
Webb looked both irritated being ordered to do such a mundane task, and nervous over the implications of being alone with Mac, however he managed a curt nod.
She watched in silence as she trailed behind Webb towards the car park and asked herself for the thousandth time why the dynamic had changed so quickly between them. 'Because you never allowed yourself to really look at another man for the past six years, and all of a sudden you have noticed one.' The unbidden answer to her questions shocked her into action. "You know I will be fine Webb, forget about the escort home." She drew up short in order to avoid the collision as he abruptly turned to face her. He opened his mouth to say something but appeared to think better of it and shut it again. Mac continued her surveillance as he took up his characteristic hands-on-hips-exasperated pose.
He sighed and avoided looking her in the eyes. "OK, fine with me. Bye." The last was said as he started to walk away.
"Clay Wait!" She really wasn't sure what she wanted from him. He stopped but didn't turn.
"What?" His voice was guarded.
"We…..We need to talk."
He spun around and closed in on her angrily. "No Mac. We don't. What we need is to stay out of each others way for a while." He stopped directly in front of her, eyes flashing. "The person you need to talk to is currently sporting bruises all over from a desperate attempt to prove his love for you."
"That's not love Webb. His actions are actually more driven by you than me. He saw you as a threat to the security he feels in knowing he always has me on the sidelines." She paused and took a long shuddering breath as she voiced the one thing she had avoided admitting to herself for so long. "He doesn't want to take a chance on me – he just wants me to be understudy to his current leading lady." She hoped she looked calmer than she felt.
Webb's expression had softened. He tactfully didn't mention the fact she was shivering violently now, he merely removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders protectively. "Mac. He does love you." He ran a hand through his hair. "He doesn't want to lose…." She quelled his words with her hand on his lips.
"Don't make his excuses Clay. If you have to make your own……but not his."
"Make my own?"
"Yes. As to why you are trying to avoid me."
"I just thought it would be best for you." His eyes conveyed his vulnerability.
Mac smiled. "In that case: don't think." She leant forward and kissed him softly. "So will you take me home now?"
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