Forgiving Our Mistakes
Chapter 4
Author: Susan217
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Never did.
A/N: Thanks to Mac2 for the beta, chickie. Sorry this took so long, you guys have been very welcoming. Hope you enjoy it.
*****
Harm growled as he was pushed into a seat. The tape binding his arms together was biting into his skin and the hood over his face was making breathing much less comfortable. He felt another body pushed into his, followed by a struggle.
Get 'em, Mac.
"Asshole," he heard, and grinned despite the situation. The truck or car they had been boarded on began to move and he winced.
They'd been awoken in darkness, bound while their heads were covered by cloth bags, and dragged out to a car. They'd ridden in silence until the sounds of planes over head could be heard. Quickly, they were led to a plane (a private jet was his guess), and flown God only knew where. When they had landed Mac had mumbled something about 72 minutes having passed, measured by her mysterious internal clock.
He had no idea where they were going, or where they had been. He only knew that time was passing too quickly and they needed to do something. They'd seen too much already and he doubted that they would walk out of this alive.
The car lurched and the drive began. As the car picked up speed he recognized the quiet of a country road. He pressed himself closer to Mac as a reassurance to himself for her safety. No one spoke.
Finally, the car slowed and began a series of short turns. He couldn't hear anything that indicated traffic or even the sounds of people near by.
The car stopped and he was pulled out of the van. Wherever they were it was paved, and the sound of water could be heard. He heard a door open, and then another. He was shoved into a seat, and the blindfold was removed from his face, but the tape was left intact.
He looked over to Mac to reassure himself of her safety, and she nodded back at him. They were in an office. Looking out a window he could see it was located inside an old warehouse that hadn't been used for years. There were several men with guns talking just outside the window, but Charles remained inside.
Harm looked at Charles. "Where the hell are we?"
"I've always been told you were a cunning man, Harmon, but I am beginning to wonder why. If I've gone through the effort of hiding your location from you why would I tell you?"
"At least tell us what we're doing here," Mac said.
Charles rolled his eyes. "If you must know we are waiting for your significant other, Sarah. Be patient."
Suddenly Charles's walkie talkie beeped. "He's here."
Charles smiled at Mac. "It looks like your knight in shining armor has arrived," he said, walking out and closing the door behind him.
Harm whirled around to Mac. "We have got to get out of here. We've seen too much."
She began scooting her chair over. "If Clayton knows then the Admiral may know. I doubt very much he came alone."
Backing up he met her and began untying the tape around her arms. He finished and she reached for the tape on his.
Several gun shots rang out, and Mac threw herself over Harm, pushing him to the ground. Glass shattered around them, pouring down on them like rain. Shouts could be heard from all over. They seemed to come from every direction.
His eyes locked onto Mac's. They stared at one another, time seeming to slow. They both knew there was a good chance they wouldn't walk out this time.
He struggled to find the words, but came up empty. Finally, he leaned forward pressing his lips against hers softly. Her lips were soft and he pulled back to look into her deep, dark eyes.
She smiled sadly as the gunfire died down outside.
"Mac?" A voice yelled. Harm recognized it as Clayton Webb's.
"In here, Webb!" he shouted, his eyes breaking from hers. He knew she was staring at him, but he couldn't let on.
The door burst open and Webb rushed in. Several agents followed behind him. "You all right?" he asked, pulling Mac to her feet and into a hug.
An agent cut Harm's arms loose as he stood, and he looked away from them, and tried to rub the circulation back into his fingers.
"I'm fine," she said. Harm could feel her eyes on his back.
"How about you, Rabb? That's a nasty cut you have on your head."
Harm glanced up at his hairline. "I forgot about that. I'll go get it looked at."
He followed the agent out the door, and was led to an ambulance. The paramedic began looking at his head, sitting him down in the back.
Webb led Mac out by her hand, heading toward a nearby car. Mac looked back at Harm, but he turned away focusing on the paramedic before him.
**
By the time Harm got home he was worn out. He had three stitches in his scalp, a killer headache, and was in desperate need of a shower.
After the long hot shower, and four Excedrin's had been taken, he was not quite as miserable. Walking to the couch he slumped down, burying his hands in his hair, wincing when he accidentally brushed his stitches. He looked at his hands in annoyance, then grabbed the remote, and switched on the television.
I've lost her.
The thought crossed his mind before he could stop it. He squelched it immediately, but the dry tightness that the thought had brought on remained.
I just need to move on. She has.
The memory of their kiss played over and over in his mind. It wasn't their first kiss, but it confused him more than any they'd had. He stood up and tried to walk off the memory.
This is going to be a rough night.
A knock on his door startled him out of his misery. He walked to the door and jerked it open without looking through the peephole. Mac stood on the other side looking as tired as he did.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
He stepped aside to let her pass. She moved past him and walked to the couch taking over the spot he had just vacated. Her hair was still wet from a recent shower and her clothes were simply sweats and a t-shirt.
"Where's Webb?" he asked, trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice. From the look she gave him, he assumed he had failed.
She grabbed the remote and flipped his television off. "I don't know where he is."
Harm frowned and moved forward, sitting down beside her. "Did he have to leave so soon?"
Mac shook her head no and looked around the apartment. "It's over." Harm's heart skipped a beat but he said nothing.
"I couldn't take it anymore. I'm sick of the excitement," she said with a humorless chuckle.
"You ended it?"
She rested her head on the back of the couch and turned to look at him. "Why did you kiss me?"
Harm rose from the couch quickly and headed to the kitchen sink. Grabbing a glass he filled it and hurriedly began to gulp the water.
Mac appeared at his side. He smiled and refilled the glass starting over.
She reached up and slowly removed the glass from his hands setting it down on the counter. "You're not going to shut down, Harm. You're going to give me an answer."
He flushed and tried to move around her, but she blocked his path. "Please, Harm."
"It seemed right at the time."
She leaned against the counter in front of him crossing her arms over her chest. "That's it? It seemed like a good idea?"
He growled and slumped forward, again burying his hands in his hair. "No, that's not it."
She didn't reply and he knew she was waiting for a further explanation. "It's just going through that…with you. Then knowing you'd be going back with Webb-"
"So this was a jealousy thing?" Irritation was evident in her voice.
"No."
"Well then what was it?"
He stood up and walked toward her. "This was an 'I'm tired of waiting' thing."
"I never asked you to wait, Harm," she said quietly. Her fingers linked through his.
"I know, Mac. I had to wait for myself to be ready…and I guess I'm done waiting."
He kissed her softly, pulling her to him as he tasted the sweetness of her lips. His tongue pushed for entrance and she responded in kindness, their bodies melding together.
Pulling back he said, "Are we ready for this?"
She smiled up at him. "We've been ready, Harm."
He chuckled and resumed their kiss.