Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine and belong to Donald P.
Bellisario. I am not making any money off of my story and don't intend to.
Rating: PG - Just about the same type of stuff you would see in a normal episode of JAG. There's no swearing, no sexual situations or anything. Just some romance, a little action.
This is my first fanfiction story and I hope all of you enjoy it. Feedback is definitely welcome.
Chapter 8: Webb, Clayton Webb
5 Days Later
Norfolk Naval Yard
1100 EST - December 11th, 2003
Mac and Bud found themselves once again at Norfolk. They had been here before with this case in hand, but this time they felt a need to ask some of Murphy's fellow officers one more time about the case. They now had new questions, and new ideas to apply to the answers that would be given. The officer of most interest was Commander Timothy Wood, who had been one of Murphy's closest friends throughout both of their careers.
"Did Murphy have a tendency to leave suddenly?" Mac asked as the three of them walked slowly through the yards.
Wood nodded. "Yes, Colonel. However, he didn't start acting strange until a few years ago. He's always been an excellent Naval Officer. Lately, he's kept to himself, been late for meetings. It's not like him. The strange thing is that the Commanding Officers don't do anything about it. It's as if he can get away with anything. They don't like his behavior, but they look the other way."
Bud looked to the Commander. "Did you say Commander Murphy had a family, sir?"
Wood shook his head and smiled. "No, he didn't have a family. Never settled down. In fact, he has transferred from different bases so many times throughout the United States and over seas the last 5 years . it's no wonder."
"Why was he transferred so often?" Mac asked curiously.
"Navy's schedule, I guess. I don't know, Colonel."
They stopped next to the ship the Commander was stationed on, the USS Seahawk. "Is there anything more you can tell us, Commander?" Bud asked.
Wood seemed to hold back for just a second, and Mac became much more interested in this officer. They certainly gained information from him the first time they interviewed him, but this time seemed much more fruitful, and Mac couldn't even explain why. Wood finally spoke. "Can I speak off the record, Ma'am? Lieutenant?" Both Mac and Bud nodded. "You didn't hear this from me. Murphy has always been a great guy. He and I talked a lot with each other, shared life stories, grew up together in the Navy. Never have I seen him act like this."
Mac asked the question begging to be asked. "Like what, Commander?"
Wood stepped a bit closer. "He's now very edgy, nervous. Afraid of everyone around him. When we're in port, nobody sees him. He just vanishes. Murphy was always one to join in, have a drink with his fellow officers. There is something else on his mind other than the Navy. The uniform he wears now is a cover-up."
"To what?" Bud asked.
Wood smiled. "You two are the lawyers, figure it out. I really can't help with that one. All I can tell you is that he is a different man from the one I enlisted with 20 years ago."
Mac nodded. "Thank you, Commander. Let us know if you have anything more to add."
"I will, Colonel. Good day."
Bud and Mac watched as the Commander turned quickly and left. He had certainly supplied them with quite a bit of information, more than they had expected. Bud looked to Mac. "This all certainly adds an interesting piece to the puzzle, doesn't it, Ma'am?"
"It certainly does."
JAG Headquarters - Conference Room
2200 EST
Sturgis and Bud found themselves elbow deep in the paper work concerning this case. The information that Bud and Mac had found earlier in the day gave the case a new element. Certainly Murphy had been lying, and that was evident. But the reasons for his lies, and what he has been truly doing these past few weeks, and years according to Wood, was still an issue. Whatever he was doing, or was involved in, had gotten the attention of Commander Rabb in some fashion. Sturgis assumed this, but certainly a justified assumption. At the moment, however, only Bud and Sturgis remained at the abyss of the endless case. Mac had left only a half an hour before. The late nights had been heavy on all of them.
"It's like this case just goes deeper and deeper. The amount of people that Murphy has talked to - just from phone records - the places he's been, the lack of concern for his Naval career. His transfer records alone take up a whole file an inch thick," Sturgis replied, disgusted. The conference room had grown colder, and Bud felt his body stiffen at this sudden realization.
Bud stood up. "Well, sir, I think I'm going to follow the Colonel's example and go home."
Sturgis nodded, and followed Bud as he gathered his papers and began to leave. They reached the bullpen, going to their offices one last time to ensure everything was shut down for the night. "Harriet doesn't like it when I spend all of these nights at the office," Bud commented lightly.
Sturgis shrugged, walking towards his office. "I'm sure she understands your commitment, Lieutenant."
Bud sighed, opening his office door. "Maybe, sir. With her planning the USO tour, and me spending endless nights working on Commander Rabb's case . we haven't seen much of each other."
"I wouldn't let it worry you. Christmas is almost here, Rabb's case will be cleaned up soon. You two will get back on track."
Bud walked into his office. "I hope so, sir."
"Hope for what?"
Bud stopped, realizing that the voice that replied to him was not Sturgis'. He spun around quickly to see .. "Webb."
Clayton Webb smiled at his friend. "I was actually looking for the Colonel, but you will do for now."
Sturgis then walked in. "Did you say something, Lieu- ." but Sturgis quickly noticed the third figure.
Bud looked to Sturgis. "You remember Clayton Webb, from the CIA?"
Sturgis smiled. "I do, yes. I've heard a lot about you."
Webb stood up. "All good I hope." He then paused and looked out at the bullpen through the office windows. "I was hoping to catch the Colonel before she left."
"She went home," Bud commented.
"I went to her apartment, and she wasn't there," Webb replied matter-of-factly.
Sturgis looked to Webb. "She visits the hospital after work."
Webb looked back curiously. "Really?"
"It's been comforting for her."
Webb just shrugged and handed Bud a brown bag. Bud opened it up, and smiled. "A chocolate shake, sir! Thanks .." but then Bud looked at Webb, knowing all too well. "What are you looking for now?"
The other man just smiled. "Ah, Lieteutinant, don't be naive enough to think that it's always about you. I've come here to give you a little help."
Sturgis walked closer to him. "What kind of help?"
Webb looked knowingly at the Commander. "There's a reason why you two and the Colonel have found nothing concerning Murphy."
"Enlighten us," Sturgis replied.
Webb stepped away from him, and moved out into the bullpen. The other two followed while Webb looked curiously around the area before speaking again. "The reason is because Murphy works for the CIA."
Bud glanced at Sturgis, and their suspicions were right. Bud replied, "That's why Commander Rabb was so interested."
Webb nodded. "Probably. Commander Murphy showed zealous on missions, so we offered him a job. The only person who knew of his activities other than the CIA was the Secretary of the Navy. Because of that, he was able to take more time off for those missions. He was transferred to bases merely to act as a cloak to his real reasons for having to be in that particular place. It actually worked quite well for us."
Sturgis didn't know what to say to this. Only that it did answer many of the questions they had. Murphy got off on his charges because of the Secretary of the Navy. He was transferred so much because of his activities in the CIA. He also lied apparently for the same reason. However, one question still remained, one that was the center of the whole investigation to begin with. "Then why did he shoot Commander Rabb?"
Webb neglected to look at the two officers, knowing his next explanation would be difficult for them. "Murphy did many good things for the CIA. However, we suspected. When he was in the Middle East, strange things began to happen. Operations based on intelligence that were ensured success failed during the early parts of the war. There was no way for us to be positive, but we knew there was a leak. It took us a while to catch on, as it was, because we have many agents roaming the area. We've been investigating Murphy for quite some time. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough evidence to be sure Murphy was the double agent."
Bud was still quite confused. "How does the Commander fit into all of this?"
"When we found out Murphy was being investigated by the Navy - which wasn't supposed to happen, we didn't want our investigation to be compromised, nor did we want to scare Murphy off. If he's been the leak, then we wanted to know how much he had been leaking. Rabb's involvement came at the worse time, and at the best time. Worse because it almost ruined the whole set-up, best because it gave us an opportunity to bug conversations between Rabb and Murphy. Rabb found out something that we only speculated on: Murphy was acting as a double-agent to an anonymous country in the Middle East, and he was transporting important information and documents. The contents to which I will not speak of here." Webb smiled to himself, seeing Sturgis and Bud unable to hide their surprised faces.
Bud became noticeably interested. "What country?"
Webb smiled. "That would be telling too much."
Sturgis was the first to speak. "So in short, Rabb found out Murphy's sins?"
Webb nodded. "Murphy confided in Rabb, Rabb did some smart investigating, kept his findings to himself. Well, to himself and me."
Bud then looked to Webb angrily. "So you knew that Commander Rabb might be in trouble?"
Walking further towards the elevator, he just shrugged again. He turned to look at the younger man. "There was no way for me to know. Murphy found out what Rabb knew, came to his apartment, drugged him, tied him up, beat him up a bit, tried to shoot, missed only to his shoulder, and Rabb escaped. Escaping to Langley. That's where he was going that night."
Sturgis' frustrations mounted. "So what do we do with all of this?"
"If you three will help me bag Murphy, your investigation will be gone the next day," Webb offered. Sturgis nodded, and caught a look at Bud. They knew that this case had gone way beyond the jurisdiction of the Navy.
Hospital
Washington, D.C.
Harm's Room
2300 EST
Mac knew her conscious had began in Harm's hospital room where she had found comfort. Now, however, her dreams sent her to her apartment once more. It was nighttime, and the visions of her familiar surroundings came into view. What was most interesting was the figure sitting on the couch. The television was on, and Harm was lounging on her puffy couch, watching a movie. His gaze turned from the screen to her.
"Hey Mac. Come watch a movie with me."
Blindly obeying, she walked quietly over to the couch and sat next to him. "What movie are we watching?"
He smiled. "Oh, one of those love flicks you like so much. Where you're never really sure if the two main characters will get together until the very end."
Mac nodded, feeling her comfort growing. Many nights had they spent together doing this very activity: sitting on a couch (many times falling asleep) and watching a movie. She gazed into his deep blue eyes. "What happens after that final scene? Do we ever know if they truly live happily ever after?"
Harm looked away. "Are you implying you'd rather watch a comedy?"
Mac laughed. "What's your favorite movie then?"
"Adventure, Action."
"No love for you, huh?" Mac commented.
Harm shook his head. "No no, I like love stories. Sometimes movies drag it out way too long, though."
Mac replied, "Sometimes love is worth waiting for, waiting until it's done right. If there's love there in the first place, of course."
"Maybe." He looked to her once again, and felt all of his problems dissolve. Sitting back against the couch, Harm looked back to the movie. Mac didn't follow him, though. She just continued to look at him. Harm couldn't help it anymore and looked back at her. "What?"
Mac smiled. "Nothing really. Just curious if we will ever have that conversation."
Harm glanced at her quickly and then turned back to the movie. "Not every life situation is a Meg Ryan movie."
Mac stood up again and began to walk to the kitchen. "It's attitudes like that that keep us from having the conversation."
Harm watched her go into the kitchen, a pang of guilt flooding his chest. He knew he had a tendency to act immature when it came to Mac, and in all honesty there was no reason to. They were both mature adults, and they both should be able to act that way. Eight years later they were still having the same conversation, and it hasn't gotten past the words, 'hello'. If it wasn't their own nerves stopping them, it was something or someone interrupting them.
Mac returned and handed him a drink. He took it, and placed it back on the coffee table in front of him next to the popcorn he had made for the movie. Harm stood up quickly before Mac could sit back down. Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eye. Harm had a sudden urge to tell her everything, to sit her down and just talk for hours. "Maybe we should ." Harm began, but found his voice catch in his throat. He had flown F-14's in battle, but he could not get up the courage to tell the woman he loves the most in the world how he feels. Mac looked at him curiously, and he finally just motioned to the couch. " . maybe we should sit down. We'll miss half the movie by falling asleep if we don't start it soon."
Both sat down, and Harm pressed play on the remote to start it. Mac didn't look at Harm, but said, "That's my favorite part."
Harm looked over at her as she sat back against him. "What's that?"
Mac suddenly laid herself across the couch, and Harm urgently followed. She laid herself on her side, facing the TV, and Harm snuggled himself behind her. He dropped the afghan that had been laying across the couch over them, and then wrapped his arm around her protectively. She just sighed as the movie began. Finally answering, she replied simply, "This."
The coolness of the room forced Mac awake. Opening her eyes, she then realized that she was not laying on her couch in a warm apartment, but in fact her head was resting on the edge of Harm's bed. Certainly sleep had been decent for her the last few weeks, but it still was difficult to gain a full 8 hours. She was lucky to get 4 a night. Pushing herself away from Harm's bed, she glanced to her watch, which read midnight. Often she refused to go home before 0100, and this night would be no exception. Reaching out, she grasped her partner's hand once again.
"I don't think either of us have gotten much sleep." Mac knew she was effectively talking to herself, but part of her felt as if Harm was indeed listening. "I wish I could put both of our minds to rest. This Murphy . thing . has been difficult." The silence of the room felt heavy suddenly, but Mac felt a need to keep talking to combat it. She would not let herself realize that she was here alone, upset over a man who has been unable to find the courage to express himself to her the way she had hoped. Why is she continuing to waste her time?
Mac sat back in her chair, releasing Harm's hand. "Oh Harm. Why can't you just say it? Why can't both of us just say it?" She sighed heavily and leaned back closer to him again. "There is so much we need to say to each other still. So much we need to share." She let the silence sit for a minute, and she still didn't hear the person just outside the door.
Webb didn't dare go in. He had intended to, but he knew it wasn't his place. Mac was confiding in Harm, whether he was awake to hear it or not. Webb didn't have any idea what Mac had been feeling lately. He had shared a few dinner dates with Mac, and they had been enjoyable. Paraguay had been a life changing moment for both of them. They had shared quite an experience with one another, and for a while Webb was convinced there was something there between them. However, he knew better. Mac's heart, though certainly giving to everyone, belongs exclusively to one man, no matter how naïve that man might be to how lucky he really was. Certainly in his own opinion, Webb thought. Sighing, he decided it best to let Sturgis and Bud fill Mac in on the new developments in the case. He walked quietly down the hall, making sure Mac wouldn't hear him.
Rating: PG - Just about the same type of stuff you would see in a normal episode of JAG. There's no swearing, no sexual situations or anything. Just some romance, a little action.
This is my first fanfiction story and I hope all of you enjoy it. Feedback is definitely welcome.
Chapter 8: Webb, Clayton Webb
5 Days Later
Norfolk Naval Yard
1100 EST - December 11th, 2003
Mac and Bud found themselves once again at Norfolk. They had been here before with this case in hand, but this time they felt a need to ask some of Murphy's fellow officers one more time about the case. They now had new questions, and new ideas to apply to the answers that would be given. The officer of most interest was Commander Timothy Wood, who had been one of Murphy's closest friends throughout both of their careers.
"Did Murphy have a tendency to leave suddenly?" Mac asked as the three of them walked slowly through the yards.
Wood nodded. "Yes, Colonel. However, he didn't start acting strange until a few years ago. He's always been an excellent Naval Officer. Lately, he's kept to himself, been late for meetings. It's not like him. The strange thing is that the Commanding Officers don't do anything about it. It's as if he can get away with anything. They don't like his behavior, but they look the other way."
Bud looked to the Commander. "Did you say Commander Murphy had a family, sir?"
Wood shook his head and smiled. "No, he didn't have a family. Never settled down. In fact, he has transferred from different bases so many times throughout the United States and over seas the last 5 years . it's no wonder."
"Why was he transferred so often?" Mac asked curiously.
"Navy's schedule, I guess. I don't know, Colonel."
They stopped next to the ship the Commander was stationed on, the USS Seahawk. "Is there anything more you can tell us, Commander?" Bud asked.
Wood seemed to hold back for just a second, and Mac became much more interested in this officer. They certainly gained information from him the first time they interviewed him, but this time seemed much more fruitful, and Mac couldn't even explain why. Wood finally spoke. "Can I speak off the record, Ma'am? Lieutenant?" Both Mac and Bud nodded. "You didn't hear this from me. Murphy has always been a great guy. He and I talked a lot with each other, shared life stories, grew up together in the Navy. Never have I seen him act like this."
Mac asked the question begging to be asked. "Like what, Commander?"
Wood stepped a bit closer. "He's now very edgy, nervous. Afraid of everyone around him. When we're in port, nobody sees him. He just vanishes. Murphy was always one to join in, have a drink with his fellow officers. There is something else on his mind other than the Navy. The uniform he wears now is a cover-up."
"To what?" Bud asked.
Wood smiled. "You two are the lawyers, figure it out. I really can't help with that one. All I can tell you is that he is a different man from the one I enlisted with 20 years ago."
Mac nodded. "Thank you, Commander. Let us know if you have anything more to add."
"I will, Colonel. Good day."
Bud and Mac watched as the Commander turned quickly and left. He had certainly supplied them with quite a bit of information, more than they had expected. Bud looked to Mac. "This all certainly adds an interesting piece to the puzzle, doesn't it, Ma'am?"
"It certainly does."
JAG Headquarters - Conference Room
2200 EST
Sturgis and Bud found themselves elbow deep in the paper work concerning this case. The information that Bud and Mac had found earlier in the day gave the case a new element. Certainly Murphy had been lying, and that was evident. But the reasons for his lies, and what he has been truly doing these past few weeks, and years according to Wood, was still an issue. Whatever he was doing, or was involved in, had gotten the attention of Commander Rabb in some fashion. Sturgis assumed this, but certainly a justified assumption. At the moment, however, only Bud and Sturgis remained at the abyss of the endless case. Mac had left only a half an hour before. The late nights had been heavy on all of them.
"It's like this case just goes deeper and deeper. The amount of people that Murphy has talked to - just from phone records - the places he's been, the lack of concern for his Naval career. His transfer records alone take up a whole file an inch thick," Sturgis replied, disgusted. The conference room had grown colder, and Bud felt his body stiffen at this sudden realization.
Bud stood up. "Well, sir, I think I'm going to follow the Colonel's example and go home."
Sturgis nodded, and followed Bud as he gathered his papers and began to leave. They reached the bullpen, going to their offices one last time to ensure everything was shut down for the night. "Harriet doesn't like it when I spend all of these nights at the office," Bud commented lightly.
Sturgis shrugged, walking towards his office. "I'm sure she understands your commitment, Lieutenant."
Bud sighed, opening his office door. "Maybe, sir. With her planning the USO tour, and me spending endless nights working on Commander Rabb's case . we haven't seen much of each other."
"I wouldn't let it worry you. Christmas is almost here, Rabb's case will be cleaned up soon. You two will get back on track."
Bud walked into his office. "I hope so, sir."
"Hope for what?"
Bud stopped, realizing that the voice that replied to him was not Sturgis'. He spun around quickly to see .. "Webb."
Clayton Webb smiled at his friend. "I was actually looking for the Colonel, but you will do for now."
Sturgis then walked in. "Did you say something, Lieu- ." but Sturgis quickly noticed the third figure.
Bud looked to Sturgis. "You remember Clayton Webb, from the CIA?"
Sturgis smiled. "I do, yes. I've heard a lot about you."
Webb stood up. "All good I hope." He then paused and looked out at the bullpen through the office windows. "I was hoping to catch the Colonel before she left."
"She went home," Bud commented.
"I went to her apartment, and she wasn't there," Webb replied matter-of-factly.
Sturgis looked to Webb. "She visits the hospital after work."
Webb looked back curiously. "Really?"
"It's been comforting for her."
Webb just shrugged and handed Bud a brown bag. Bud opened it up, and smiled. "A chocolate shake, sir! Thanks .." but then Bud looked at Webb, knowing all too well. "What are you looking for now?"
The other man just smiled. "Ah, Lieteutinant, don't be naive enough to think that it's always about you. I've come here to give you a little help."
Sturgis walked closer to him. "What kind of help?"
Webb looked knowingly at the Commander. "There's a reason why you two and the Colonel have found nothing concerning Murphy."
"Enlighten us," Sturgis replied.
Webb stepped away from him, and moved out into the bullpen. The other two followed while Webb looked curiously around the area before speaking again. "The reason is because Murphy works for the CIA."
Bud glanced at Sturgis, and their suspicions were right. Bud replied, "That's why Commander Rabb was so interested."
Webb nodded. "Probably. Commander Murphy showed zealous on missions, so we offered him a job. The only person who knew of his activities other than the CIA was the Secretary of the Navy. Because of that, he was able to take more time off for those missions. He was transferred to bases merely to act as a cloak to his real reasons for having to be in that particular place. It actually worked quite well for us."
Sturgis didn't know what to say to this. Only that it did answer many of the questions they had. Murphy got off on his charges because of the Secretary of the Navy. He was transferred so much because of his activities in the CIA. He also lied apparently for the same reason. However, one question still remained, one that was the center of the whole investigation to begin with. "Then why did he shoot Commander Rabb?"
Webb neglected to look at the two officers, knowing his next explanation would be difficult for them. "Murphy did many good things for the CIA. However, we suspected. When he was in the Middle East, strange things began to happen. Operations based on intelligence that were ensured success failed during the early parts of the war. There was no way for us to be positive, but we knew there was a leak. It took us a while to catch on, as it was, because we have many agents roaming the area. We've been investigating Murphy for quite some time. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough evidence to be sure Murphy was the double agent."
Bud was still quite confused. "How does the Commander fit into all of this?"
"When we found out Murphy was being investigated by the Navy - which wasn't supposed to happen, we didn't want our investigation to be compromised, nor did we want to scare Murphy off. If he's been the leak, then we wanted to know how much he had been leaking. Rabb's involvement came at the worse time, and at the best time. Worse because it almost ruined the whole set-up, best because it gave us an opportunity to bug conversations between Rabb and Murphy. Rabb found out something that we only speculated on: Murphy was acting as a double-agent to an anonymous country in the Middle East, and he was transporting important information and documents. The contents to which I will not speak of here." Webb smiled to himself, seeing Sturgis and Bud unable to hide their surprised faces.
Bud became noticeably interested. "What country?"
Webb smiled. "That would be telling too much."
Sturgis was the first to speak. "So in short, Rabb found out Murphy's sins?"
Webb nodded. "Murphy confided in Rabb, Rabb did some smart investigating, kept his findings to himself. Well, to himself and me."
Bud then looked to Webb angrily. "So you knew that Commander Rabb might be in trouble?"
Walking further towards the elevator, he just shrugged again. He turned to look at the younger man. "There was no way for me to know. Murphy found out what Rabb knew, came to his apartment, drugged him, tied him up, beat him up a bit, tried to shoot, missed only to his shoulder, and Rabb escaped. Escaping to Langley. That's where he was going that night."
Sturgis' frustrations mounted. "So what do we do with all of this?"
"If you three will help me bag Murphy, your investigation will be gone the next day," Webb offered. Sturgis nodded, and caught a look at Bud. They knew that this case had gone way beyond the jurisdiction of the Navy.
Hospital
Washington, D.C.
Harm's Room
2300 EST
Mac knew her conscious had began in Harm's hospital room where she had found comfort. Now, however, her dreams sent her to her apartment once more. It was nighttime, and the visions of her familiar surroundings came into view. What was most interesting was the figure sitting on the couch. The television was on, and Harm was lounging on her puffy couch, watching a movie. His gaze turned from the screen to her.
"Hey Mac. Come watch a movie with me."
Blindly obeying, she walked quietly over to the couch and sat next to him. "What movie are we watching?"
He smiled. "Oh, one of those love flicks you like so much. Where you're never really sure if the two main characters will get together until the very end."
Mac nodded, feeling her comfort growing. Many nights had they spent together doing this very activity: sitting on a couch (many times falling asleep) and watching a movie. She gazed into his deep blue eyes. "What happens after that final scene? Do we ever know if they truly live happily ever after?"
Harm looked away. "Are you implying you'd rather watch a comedy?"
Mac laughed. "What's your favorite movie then?"
"Adventure, Action."
"No love for you, huh?" Mac commented.
Harm shook his head. "No no, I like love stories. Sometimes movies drag it out way too long, though."
Mac replied, "Sometimes love is worth waiting for, waiting until it's done right. If there's love there in the first place, of course."
"Maybe." He looked to her once again, and felt all of his problems dissolve. Sitting back against the couch, Harm looked back to the movie. Mac didn't follow him, though. She just continued to look at him. Harm couldn't help it anymore and looked back at her. "What?"
Mac smiled. "Nothing really. Just curious if we will ever have that conversation."
Harm glanced at her quickly and then turned back to the movie. "Not every life situation is a Meg Ryan movie."
Mac stood up again and began to walk to the kitchen. "It's attitudes like that that keep us from having the conversation."
Harm watched her go into the kitchen, a pang of guilt flooding his chest. He knew he had a tendency to act immature when it came to Mac, and in all honesty there was no reason to. They were both mature adults, and they both should be able to act that way. Eight years later they were still having the same conversation, and it hasn't gotten past the words, 'hello'. If it wasn't their own nerves stopping them, it was something or someone interrupting them.
Mac returned and handed him a drink. He took it, and placed it back on the coffee table in front of him next to the popcorn he had made for the movie. Harm stood up quickly before Mac could sit back down. Taking her hands in his, he looked her in the eye. Harm had a sudden urge to tell her everything, to sit her down and just talk for hours. "Maybe we should ." Harm began, but found his voice catch in his throat. He had flown F-14's in battle, but he could not get up the courage to tell the woman he loves the most in the world how he feels. Mac looked at him curiously, and he finally just motioned to the couch. " . maybe we should sit down. We'll miss half the movie by falling asleep if we don't start it soon."
Both sat down, and Harm pressed play on the remote to start it. Mac didn't look at Harm, but said, "That's my favorite part."
Harm looked over at her as she sat back against him. "What's that?"
Mac suddenly laid herself across the couch, and Harm urgently followed. She laid herself on her side, facing the TV, and Harm snuggled himself behind her. He dropped the afghan that had been laying across the couch over them, and then wrapped his arm around her protectively. She just sighed as the movie began. Finally answering, she replied simply, "This."
The coolness of the room forced Mac awake. Opening her eyes, she then realized that she was not laying on her couch in a warm apartment, but in fact her head was resting on the edge of Harm's bed. Certainly sleep had been decent for her the last few weeks, but it still was difficult to gain a full 8 hours. She was lucky to get 4 a night. Pushing herself away from Harm's bed, she glanced to her watch, which read midnight. Often she refused to go home before 0100, and this night would be no exception. Reaching out, she grasped her partner's hand once again.
"I don't think either of us have gotten much sleep." Mac knew she was effectively talking to herself, but part of her felt as if Harm was indeed listening. "I wish I could put both of our minds to rest. This Murphy . thing . has been difficult." The silence of the room felt heavy suddenly, but Mac felt a need to keep talking to combat it. She would not let herself realize that she was here alone, upset over a man who has been unable to find the courage to express himself to her the way she had hoped. Why is she continuing to waste her time?
Mac sat back in her chair, releasing Harm's hand. "Oh Harm. Why can't you just say it? Why can't both of us just say it?" She sighed heavily and leaned back closer to him again. "There is so much we need to say to each other still. So much we need to share." She let the silence sit for a minute, and she still didn't hear the person just outside the door.
Webb didn't dare go in. He had intended to, but he knew it wasn't his place. Mac was confiding in Harm, whether he was awake to hear it or not. Webb didn't have any idea what Mac had been feeling lately. He had shared a few dinner dates with Mac, and they had been enjoyable. Paraguay had been a life changing moment for both of them. They had shared quite an experience with one another, and for a while Webb was convinced there was something there between them. However, he knew better. Mac's heart, though certainly giving to everyone, belongs exclusively to one man, no matter how naïve that man might be to how lucky he really was. Certainly in his own opinion, Webb thought. Sighing, he decided it best to let Sturgis and Bud fill Mac in on the new developments in the case. He walked quietly down the hall, making sure Mac wouldn't hear him.
