More Than Words
Rating: PG
Classification: General/romance
Spoilers: Almost everything up to season 9
Disclaimer: I don't own much in this story... The characters don't belong to me...
Summary: Harm's turn on the birthday gift he received from Mac... Takes place after "Happy Birthday to you..." and "Don't Speak"...
Author's Notes: The last part of the trilogy... Harm has never been able to tell Mac that he love('s' or 'd'?) her, so will he be able to write it down? Personally, I wouldn't put money on it...
Thank you so much Aerogirl for your time! It's always really appreciated!
2238 ZULU
Mac's Apartment
Georgetown
'Thank God, it's Friday!' Mac thought when she entered her apartment, flipping off her shoes as soon as she shut the door. It had been a crazy week at JAG. She had spent her day with a corporal charged with conduct unbecoming by his zealous CO, for wearing red boxers with glow-in-the-dark hearts from his wife instead of the regular tan ones under his khakis. Jimmy and little AJ had chickenpox, so Bud and Harriet were confined to their home to avoid an outbreak. Harm was back, but his desk was buried under tons of papers that had accumulated during the past week and he barely had time for a coffee. It had been a full week now since Mac gave Harm his birthday present, but even though she was dying to know what his answer would be, she couldn't find the courage to ask him.
That morning, she had convinced herself to talk to him, but when she had crossed the bullpen towards his office, she had remembered that he had taken his day off to drive Sergei to the airport, so she had returned to her office, disappointed, trying to find a line of defense for her client. When she sat down in her chair after lunch, she saw it on her desk. The little Navy blue leather notebook, with a white ribbon tied in a bow and a tiny card written 'read me first'. Mac had quickly reached the door of her office to secure it and read the card out loud, "This is what you were waiting for. Please, only open it tonight, when you're at home. H." She had played with the ribbon for a long time before she had finally decided to put the booklet in her briefcase, not to yield to temptation.
She threw her coat on a chair, grabbed a soda from the fridge and sat on her couch, her legs cuddled under a heavy wool blanket. She removed the booklet from her briefcase, carefully untied the white ribbon and opened it to the first page. She could easily recognize her partner's curly writing covering the white sheet.
"Dear Mac,
Your journal is the first thing I read when you all left my apartment last Friday. I couldn't stop; it was too incredible to know what your feelings are for me. I read it at least three times before I could open the other little booklet. I tried – you have to believe me, I tried to put down on paper the feelings I have for you, but unfortunately, I couldn't make it. I'm sorry. I think I finally made a promise I couldn't keep... Harm."