Beautiful Days Part 6/10
Disclaimer - See part one for all important information
Day one eighty-nine, oh I almost lost that girl
To my foolish pride
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JAG
Wednesday July 20, 2003
4:45 PM
"We are not having this conversation," Mac said to Harm as she stormed out of his office and into hers.
Harm followed her into the office slamming her door shut. "Yes, we are and we're going finish it."
"You really think we're going to finish this. Harm, it was finished. Then you had to go act like a jerk and get protective and defensive on me for no reason." Mac slammed her briefcase on her desk.
"I think I have a reason to," Harm defended himself.
"What?"
"I have reason. Your ex-fiancé is working a case with you. I have reason."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do Mac. You canceled last night to be with him."
"We're working a murder case together, Harm." Mac stated as she stared at him with disbelief.
Harm took a step closer to Mac. "You didn't have to work at your place with him."
"I am not even going to dignify that with a response," Mac said through gritted teeth.
"You were less than fourteen hours away from marring Mic and now you're working a case with him."
Mac stared at Harm in discord and agitation. "That was two years ago. Have you forgotten that I am not engaged to Mic now and I did not marry?"
"But he might try something with you and I feel that it is my right as your fiancé to protect you from him."
Mac tried very hard to resist the urge to hurt Harm. "What?!"
"You heard me."
"I don't believe you," Mac sighed as she felt her anger grow as she placed her cover on her briefcase.
"You should. He's going to try something."
"No he's not. He knows I'm engaged. He saw the ring, hell it was practically the first thing you said when you saw him." Mac took a breath trying to calm herself. "I love you Harm and Mic knows that. Hell, he knew it when we were engaged."
"That's another thing! How do I know you're not going to do something with him like you did with me on the Admiral's porch?"
The office grew silent as everyone in the bullpen heard Harm's words followed by the distinctive crack of Mac slapping Harm. Harm's hand went to his face and he immediately regretted every word that came out of his mouth. Not only for the pain that was shooting across his cheek but for the pain he saw in Mac's eyes as he looked at her.
Mac's eyes filled with tears as she realized what she did. Her anger reached a new level with Harm and she was scared of what might happen next. She reached to her desk, grabbed her briefcase and cover. She quickly exited her office before she or Harm could cause any more damage to each other.
Harm watched her exit through the bullpen. He wanted to go after her but he didn't know what to say and plus his pride was on the floor holding his feet down. Harm slowly slid into a chair holding his head in his hands and wondering how he was going to fix this one. Even wondering if it was possible to fix this one.
"Sir," Harriet said as she stood at the open doorway.
"Just go away, Harriet," Harm grumbled.
Harriet walked into the office. "I can't do that."
Harm looked at her. "Why not?"
"Because I care about my friends. Right now two of them are hurting very much and I can only help one," Harriet said as she handed Harm an ice pack. "It should help with the pain."
"Thanks," Harm said as he placed the ice pack on his face where Mac slapped him.
"The admiral would like to see you in his office. I believe his exact words were 'Get me Rabb and I'll finish him off for the Colonel.' Sir."
Harm stood up and gave Harriet a grateful look. "Thanks Harriet. If Mac calls tell her I'm sorry."
"What makes you think she'll call me?" Harriet asked.
Harm looked at Harriet's belly. "She hates upsetting you especially when your pregnant."
Harriet smiled. "If only Bud listened to that advice."
Harm chuckled a little before leaving Mac's office. For the next forty-six minutes he got his six chewed out by the admiral. Harm left the admiral's office with orders to fix this problem or pack for an all-expenses-paid trip to the South Pole to count penguins for the Navy.
Harm reached his office to find a note attached to his computer. 'Commander, Mac called she said when you're ready to have an adult conversation see her. -Harriet. PS Don't screw this one up.'
Mac's Apartment
6:10 PM
Mac stood up and walked to the door as she heard a knock and the words "Mac, it's me." She unlocked the door and sat down on the couch.
Harm slowly opened the door and looked at her from the doorway. He walked into the apartment and closed the door behind him. He slowly moved into the living room and shut his eyes as he saw the box of Kleenex near the couch and the redness around Mac's eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Why did you say it?" Mac asked softly.
Harm sat on the couch with some space between them. "I'm not sure. I've been replaying the way I acted and the fight for the past hour and a half and I've only reached one conclusion."
"What's that?" Mac asked as she looked at him for the first time since he walked into the apartment. He face was filled with hurt and his eyes held his feelings he was trying to convey to her.
"I was jealous."
"Why?" Mac pleaded to know.
Harm took a deep breath. "Because you're my girl and before that you were his girl. He's had that part of you that I have now."
Mac chuckled very slightly as she looked at her engagement ring. "He never held my heart like you do."
"I didn't like knowing that you were spending time with him and not me." Harm told her as he reached for her hand. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too." Mac reached up and lightly touched his cheek that was slightly bruised. "Does it hurt?"
"Not as much as my heart did." Harm said to her as he held her hand on his cheek. "I love you Sarah, with more than anything I have and with more than I am."
"I love you, too," Mac said as a fresh batch of tears fell from her eyes.
Harm gathered Mac into his arms and held onto her dear life as they both cried. Ten minutes later Harm chuckled to himself causing Mac to lift her head and look at him. "What's so funny?"
"I thought this would have been harder to make up for. I feel like I got off easy," Harm said.
Mac took a deep breath. "You're lucky there was a call made here after I talked to Harriet."
"What do you mean?"
Mac sat up straight. "Oh, I had the whole fight ready to play out. There was going to be nothing short of a miracle for you to get out of this one. I got home, changed, called Harriet to make sure she was okay, and was still fuming. Sixteen minutes later the phone rings and I let the machine pick it up."
Mac stood up and walked over to the machine. "Who was it?" Harm asked as she pressed play.
"Hi, Colonel MacKenzie, this is Julie from the Chapel at the Naval Academy. I'm just calling to tell you that we do have the afternoon of May first available for you and Commander Rabb. If the two of you are still considering using the Chapel for your wedding please give me a call. The number is 891-555-4323. Again, this is Julie regarding the Academy Chapel," the answering machine said as Mac sat back down.
Harm looked at Mac, waiting for her to finish her explanation. She took his hands into hers. "I heard the message and remembered that no matter how much I loathed you at the time that I love you more." A tear fell from her eye. "You're the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. And it did take a miracle for us to get out of this fight."
"What miracle?" Harm asked not fully understanding Mac's statement.
"Our love." Mac's voice cracked as she said those two words. Harm's heart overflowed with emotion as he knew that no matter what they could make it. He pulled his hands out of Mac's and held her tight against him as new tears fell from their eyes.
End of Part 6