Disclaimer: JAG belongs to DPB and CBS and The Bachelor to ABC. No infringement intended.
Author's Note: I know I said this next part would come in about a week's time (I know, it's been over a month!). Originally, this was only meant to have one more part. I was just going to jump straight to the last ep dealing with H/M only and no other characters, the end. But so many people requested it that I had to rethink the whole thing through. So now it's going to turn into another looong fic. I hope nobody minds!
Harm and Mac won't be staying as close in characterisation in this story. I think I'll be writing this more fun than anything too serious.
All stories can be found at:
Yahoo Group ~ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/masumi_fanfics/
Website ~ http://www.geocities.com/masumi_marine/
Any suggestions, comments, constructive criticism welcome
Week 1: Monday
08:20
am
Sarah MacKenzie's Apartment
Number
201, The Washington
Georgetown
The weekend flew by and Monday soon arrived at Mac's door, bringing with it an anomalous sense of trepidation and apprehension. It wasn't out of the norm to be stepping into a case totally in the dark, but a sixth sense put her on high alert. It sounded the warning that the next few weeks would bring about crucial change in her life. She tried to laugh it off, dismissing such ridiculous notions, but she'd long learnt to trust her instincts. So, it was with an uncharacteristic amount of nervousness that Mac got herself ready in the morning.
Today would be the final stages of the casting process to find that perfect man to be the next Bachelor. Harm would make his debut appearance, steal everyone's approval and mysteriously win the final vote. Webb hadn't explained what she was meant to be doing there. The last of the twenty-four Bachelorettes had already been chosen in previous weeks and none of the women were suppose to meet the final five potential Bachelors. So what does Webb want me there today for? she wondered.
"Well, Dr MacKenzie, guess we'll find out soon enough," Mac answered herself. Can they get any cornier? She shook her head, mulling over her alter ego. For the next few weeks, she would assume the illustrious role of Dr Sarah MacKenzie, renowned eye surgeon. Traveller of the four corners of the world in aid of the less fortunate. She closed the cap to the eyeliner and picked up a light, peachy coloured lipstick. Whoever comes up with these covers in Webb's department must be running fresh out of ideas. Next assignment I'm probably off back to Afghanistan as a simple peasant, tamer of the goats.
Harm on the other hand, had it easy, staying true to his flyboy self. The women are sure going to have a looong field day with Harm, she thought warily. What are one's chances of dating a real, decent naval ex-fighter pilot-lawyer? Next to none, according to her own personal experience. It came down to the foremost nagging question on her mind, how was Harm going to treat her as one of the Bachelorettes? She didn't dare delve too deeply into the vast array of possibilities. Webb had instructed them not to have any contact from Saturday on wards, so they would be arriving at the production studios as two separate personalities. Apparently, Harm and the other Bachelor hopefuls would each be picked up and driven personally by their own chauffeur in a Mercedes. She'd been told to meet downstairs at oh-eight-forty-five.
"I wonder if they'll be extending that luxury for me as well?" Mac mused out loud as she finished applying a light layer of make-up. She paused to look at the pair of eyes staring back at her in reflection of the mirror. They were unusually brightened with uneasy anticipation.
Mac arrived downstairs outside her apartment to find her surprise driver waiting with the door held open for her on the passenger side. "Webb," she greeted cordially.
"Sarah MacKenzie," he swept an arm grandly at the interiors for her.
Mac gazed at him suspiciously; Webb seemed to be enjoying himself way too much. "Nice car" she commented idly, starting the conversation once he'd seated.
"I know, pity it's not mine," he replied cynically.
"So, what am I doing there today?"
"We're going to put you in as one of the judges for the last day of casting."
Mac's brow furrowed into a puzzled frown, "but won't people get suspicious if I'm one of the judges and then I get chosen as one of the Bachelorettes?"
"We'll make sure not to show any footage of you so no one would know you were one of them other than the judges themselves. But they've all signed strict confidentiality agreements, so unless someone's willing to risk a few million dollars in hefty fines, there should be no problems."
Similarly in another part of DC, Harm had in fact been picked up by his own chauffeur in a darkly tinted, Mercedes sports coupe. The only exception in his case was there was absolutely no friendly chatter. The driver might as well have worn a t-shirt that emblazoned 'I'm One of Clayton Webb's Men.' From the black sunglasses and the tightly closed lips to the expressionless face, to Harm, he screamed foul play. For the millionth time, Harm wondered if he'd been too rash to throw Mac and himself into such a dodgy sounding investigation. He was distracted from further perturbing feelings however, when he felt the car pick up speed and manoeuvre smoothly around the traffic.
Wow, this baby purrs even better than my corvette, Harm admired with typical masculine envy.