Chapter 9
Home is where your best friend is
A/N: Yes, I realise that its nowhere near Christmas at the moment, but in the story it was Christmas time, so of course I had to write a Christmas chapter. But don't complain, because I promise that this chapter will be a happy one for all you shippers - it features our good friends Harm, Mac, Harriet and a bunch of mistletoe. *grins* That got you interested, didn't it.
I also have to say that unfortunately my chapters are going to be even longer in coming out because school holidays are now over, so I'm going to have even less time to write.
December 17, 1745
Washington Mall
As Christmas rapidly approached them, Mac became more accustomed to the routine that she was falling back into after three years, but at the same time she became more uneasy about her life, not to mention that her emotional state could only be described as shocking. With the holiday season upon them, snow, brightly decorated Christmas trees, and decorations everywhere you looked, she was having a rather hard time with the whole 'family season' thing.
For her, Christmas had always been anything but a happy family time, up until she met Harm and the rest of the JAG crew. They had become her surrogate family, and for that she was grateful. This year, on the other hand, she was feeling rather lost. True, she had been welcomed back home with open arms, however her last three Christmases had been spent with Rob, and last year they had spent it as an actual family. Now, she had only Ali to spend her Christmas with and her not yet finalised divorce was always weighing heavily on her mind. To make matters worse, Rob had called her numerous times begging her to come back to him, saying that he had realised all his mistakes and that he really did want her - and Ali too - back with him. Harm and Harriet had tried to stress to her that it was not a good idea to listen to him, and that she should not feel guilty for still wanting a divorce. Despite all their support, however, it was still hard not to feel guilty over everything that had happened, although it was getting easier, especially since Rob's confession during his last phone call.
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"....but I really want you back Sarah."
"How many times do I have to tell you, Rob. I am not going to come back to you."
"But I love you."
"No, you don't. If you loved me, then you wouldn't have gotten repeatedly drunk in front of me, you wouldn't have hurled insults at me and you most certainly would not have tried to hit my daughter."
"Our daughter."
"Funny," came her icy retort. "You never seemed to think of her as such. Why the sudden change of heart."
"I've come to realise that you two are the most important things in my life."
"No. I don't believe you. If we were the most important things in your sad pathetic life, then you wouldn't have treated us the way you did." she bit back angrily.
"That was all just a misunderstanding." He tried to reason, making it sound as though it were something minor, like someone getting the wrong address for a party. "I thought that he was her father, but I got DNA tests back and they prove that she really is mine. I'd really like for the two of you come back home and we can start again."
She was absolutely appalled as she realised what he was saying. "Are you trying to tell me that you didn't trust me enough to believe that I would never cheat on you. You didn't even believe that our child was yours, and consequently treated us both atrociously because of it and you now just want us to put it all behind us because it was, quote 'a misunderstanding', unquote? Well, I have news for you. I loved you when I married you, I really did, but your behaviour towards me was what tore us apart. I tried to keep loving you, but you just made it impossible. What you tried to do to Ali is inexcusable and if there's one thing that I wont tolerate it's an abusive alcoholic father. I don't love you anymore Rob, so get used to it and for goodness sake, stop calling me.
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Mac shook her head as she recalled the conversation. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't watch where she was going. As she turned the corner, she ran headlong into a tall man, knocking his bundles of packages out of his arms.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry --" She stopped mid sentence as she looked up and realised who she had run into.
"Penny for what I would guess to be your highly interesting thoughts, marine." Harm chuckled as the two of them bent down to retrieve his dropped packages.
Mac sighed. She may as well tell him the truth, seeing as he would see right through a lie anyway. "Just stuff. You know, the season of love and joy and family and I don't seem to have any of them. I guess I'm just feeling lonely and sorry for myself."
"Hey, you shouldn't be so depressed so close to Christmas. For a start you've got a family standing right next to you holding your hand." He turned his attention to the object of his words and greeted the small bespectacled toddler. "Hiya Ali. How are you today?"
"I'm good, Unca Harm. Mummy and me are going Kissmas shopping." she told him excitedly, bouncing up and down on the spot.
"Wow, that sounds like fun. Do you think I could join you?" he asked her, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.
Ali giggled. "Can he, mamma? Pleeeeeeeeease?" she begged, her face lighting up at the prospect of spending some more time with her favourite grown up apart from her mamma.
"Well...." Mac pretended to think hard about it. "I suppose that you could come along, but only if you promise to be good, Navy."
"I promise."
"Good. Then come join us."
They spent the next few hours happily wandering the shops, Mac and Harm talking comfortably about everything and nothing, with Mac carrying most of their bags while Ali was perched on her new favourite travelling spot - Harm's shoulders. After buying gifts for everyone but each other, they lapsed into comfortable silence, both wondering what to buy the other. Their friendship had reached a level where they were as comfortable around each other as they had been before Mac met Rob. Unfortunately, this meant that the tension between them had also returned, but this time it was different. They both knew that the other harboured feelings toward them, but neither was sure of the extent of those feelings. The main difference though, was that both of them saw this as a second chance and neither was going to let it get away from them this time. They had made too many mistakes regarding each other and both were determined to find happiness.
As they walked past a jewellery shop, one particular item caught Harm's eye. He stopped and looked in the window, contemplating whether or not it would be a good idea to buy it. She would absolutely kill him for spending so much money on her..... but it would be worth it to see her face and it would be a great way to let her know how important she was to him.
"Hey Mac, I'm just going to duck into this store. I think I see something that mum would really like." He told her.
"Sure thing. You want me to come and make sure that she'll like what you're getting her?"
Harm panicked for a moment. She wasn't meant to come in with him. How could he possibly buy her present with her looking over his shoulder.
"Naa, its okay thanks Mac. Besides, she doesn't believe that I'm capable of picking out something nice all by myself and I plan on proving her wrong." Mac gave him a sceptical look, as if to say 'I don't trust you to pick out jewellery either'.
Ha He thought Just you wait, marine. I'll show you that I can pick out good jewellery
"Hey, if it'll make you feel any better I promise that I'll show you whatever I get her before I send it to her, alright. That way if it is truly hideous you can tell me so and I don't have to go through the embarrassment of sending her something she won't ever wear."
Mac laughed and shook her head. "Alright then sailor, I'll let you go in alone, but if you need help then make sure you ask me, alright. I'll just be getting a coffee form over there." she said pointing to a small café to their right. "Do you want me to order you a coffee too?"
"Yeah, that would be great thanks. Do you think that you could take this little munchkin with you?" He asked her, lifting Ali off his shoulders.
"Sure. As long as you take a few extra bags for me." They made a swap, with Harm relieving Mac of the bags on her right arm and placing Ali there instead.
"I'll meet you in the café in 10, alright?"
"Sure thing, Harm."
Harm watched and waited until Mac sat down at a table in the café before entering the jewellery store. He went over to the display window and took another look at what he had seen.
"Can I help you?" a pretty redhead shop assistant asked him. He turned around, smiling.
"Yes please. I'd like to have a look at that chain there." He said, pointing.
"Of course." the shop assistant pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and opened up the glass display case, reaching in and pulling out the desired item. She placed it in Harm's awaiting hands and he admired it.
It was a long delicate chain, made entirely from rose gold. On the fine chain hung a tear drop diamond pendant, encased in the same rose gold. It was beautiful. It was perfect.
"I'll take it." Harm said, not really caring how much it cost him. As he was paying for it, he realised that he didn't have anything for his mother, which was what he'd told Mac he was coming in here to buy. He inwardly shrugged as he took his purchase and stashed it safely into the inside pocket of his long coat. He would just tell her that he hadn't found anything that he really liked.
Back at the café, Mac sat waiting for both Harm and her latte to arrive, which they both did at the same time five minutes and twelve seconds later. Harm sat down and Mac looked questioningly at him, looking deliberately at the bundle of bags he was holding. Harm interpreted her gaze and lied smoothly to her.
"It wasn't as nice as I'd though it was." he told her, shaking his head. "Well, it was nice, but not something I can really see my mother wearing. So never fear, you don't have to find a way to tell me nicely that what I've bought is hideous."
Mac grinned and passed Harm his cappuccino. Ali looked at his mug and held out her hands for it.
"Sip" she demanded.
"No, honey, you don't want a sip of that. Uncle Harm's drinking a grown up drink. You wouldn't like it." Mac told her daughter gently. Unfortunately for her, Ali had inherited her mother's extreme stubbornness and kept demanding a sip until Harm persuaded Mac to allow her to have one. The look on Ali's face was priceless. She screwed up her nose, squinched her eyes shut and stuck her tongue out of her mouth.
"Yucky" she declared.
Mac and Harm laughed at her reaction and were interrupted by the ringing of Harm's mobile phone. He grabbed it and answered it in the usual way.
"Rabb."
Mac watched Harm's facial expression as he listened to the person on the other end of the line. He went from a neutral expression, to suspicious, to alarmed and then to horrified and pale. When he hung up the phone he was shaking and Mac wondered what on earth could have shaken him up so badly.
"Harm, what is it?" she asked him.
"The Sarah." he told her listlessly. "She's gone. Someone stole the Sarah."
Mac blanched as she listened to Harm's words. The Sarah was his pride and joy and with good reason. He had put so much work into it over the years.
"How?" she whispered. Harm shrugged.
"I dunno. It was just there yesterday and then this afternoon when they got there it was gone."
They sat there in silence, both trying to get a grasp on what had happened. The wheels in Mac's head were turning as an idea formed. She still had some old contacts in LA that might be able to help her, not to mention a few people who owed her favours. Maybe, just maybe, she could do something about Harm's plane.
2000
Mac's apartment
After feeding Ali and putting her to bed, Mac picked up the phone and called an old friend of hers. She explained what she wanted him to do and he was happy to help her. After chatting idly for another half a hour, they said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. She sat back and silently wished that she could pull this off. If she could, then it would be the best Christmas present she could ever get for him. If not....well, she just hoped that she could find him something else in time.
December 24, 2145
Roberts' residence
Everyone from JAG was standing or sitting around the Roberts' living room, talking and having a good time. Mac was having an animated discussion with Sturgis when she heard someone call her name. She turned around to see Harm sitting on the couch nursing a sobbing Ali in his arms. She excused herself from Sturgis and walked around the edge of the room to where they were.
"Hey pumpkin. What's the matter, huh?" she asked, taking Ali into her arms.
Harm shrugged. "She just started crying for no reason. I'd say that she's had enough of this. Too much excitement all in the one day." He looked adoringly at Ali. "Is someone tired?" he said to her, kissing her softly. "I think you are, aren't you?"
Ali's only reply was to stick her thumb into her mouth and cuddle in closer to Mac. She laughed and stroked Ali's hair.
"Do you mind if we get going now, Harm? Ali needs to get to bed." she yawned. "And so do I, for that matter."
"Actually that sounds like a good idea. Come on, lets get our coats."
As they moved to get their coats, Mac's foot caught on one of AJ's stray toys that Harriet had missed with her tidy spree and stumbled, grabbing the table to steady herself. Unfortunately in doing so she put her hand in a dish of cranberry sauce which also splattered onto the sleeve of her red 3/4 length top and the lower part of her arm.
"Aaaargh, damn it." she muttered to herself.
"What was that, ma'am?" asked Harriet who was passing.
"Oh, nothing Harriet. I just got sauce all over me. Would you mind taking Ali for a second while I wash it off please?"
"Of course." she replied, a bright smile on her face as usual.
Mac went into the kitchen and began attempting to wash the sauce of her arm and sleeve. At least the top is red she thought to herself as she scrubbed away at the sleeve.
"Hey." came a familiar masculine voice from behind her. She turned around to see Harm standing there, a look of amusement evident on his face.
"You know Mac, if you were hungry then you could have just said something."
Mac threw him a mock glare and returned to washing the sleeve of her top, encountering a slight problem when she found that there was sauce on her elbow too. She attempted to put just that bit under the water, however with the shape of the sink and the angle she was at, it was impossible and she growled in frustration.
"Let me help you."
Harm stepped up behind her and put his arms around her and into the sink, carefully helping her wash the sleeve of her top. She struggled to keep her breathing at a normal level, but it was becoming increasingly difficult with the objects of almost all her dreams and fantasies standing right behind her.
"There we go, all clean now." he teased her. "Are you alright Mac. You've been kind of quiet this evening. You coping with everything alright?" he asked her, concerned.
Mac leaned back into the safety of his arms and nodded her eyes shut.
"Thanks Harm." she said quietly.
"Thanks for what?"
"For everything. For just being there for me. I don't know that I could have made it through Christmas this year without you."
Harm smiled and leaned a cheek on her silky hair. "There isn't a place I'd rather be." he told her honestly, placing a gentle kiss in her hair.
It finally registered to them that they should really be getting back to Ali, so they left the kitchen and went to collect their coats. They slid their coats on and turned to Harriet to get Ali off her. They were not overly surprised to see everyone crowded into the hallway to wish them a Merry Christmas, however they were surprised by the fact that no one was talking, that they were just staring at them, most of them with grins on their faces.
"What?" Mac and Harm asked at the same time, baffled by everyone's odd behaviour.
Simultaneously, everyone looked up at the ceiling above the two of them. They followed the direction of their gazes to find a large wreath of mistletoe hanging directly above their heads. Harm grinned.
"Uh oh," he said, "Looks like we're caught. No way to escape this one."
"Well go on, Harm, kiss her." Harriet urged. "Its tradition. You can't break it now."
"You're right, Harriet. Who would I be to break a Christmas tradition like this? Especially on Christmas eve."
He turned to face Mac and took a step closer to her. Then he leaned down and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. The chaste kiss lasted for almost five seconds, but the sparks they both felt when their lips touched made it incredibly hard for Mac not to grab him and ravish him there and then. Of course it would have been rather awkward considering almost the entire JAG office was looking on. They said their goodbyes and headed out to the car talking about the plans they had with each other for Christmas day.
Mac dropped Harm off at the wall and waited in the car with Ali, refusing his urgings that she should come too. Harm headed out to the wall alone to wish his father a merry Christmas and talk about the woman who he was determined to make things work with.
December 25, 0915
Mac's apartment
Mac was sitting on the couch holding a squirming Ali who was determined to get at her pile of brightly wrapped Christmas presents. Mac, on the other hand, was determined to make her wait until Harm was there, because..... well, she didn't know why, it just seemed somehow...right.
After making Ali promise not to open any presents while she was gone, Mac went into the kitchen to get herself another cup of coffee. Just as she was pouring it she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in, flyboy, the door's unlocked." she called through the kitchen, knowing that Harm was the only one who would be knocking on her door at such a time on Christmas morning. She took out another mug from the cupboard and poured a second cup of coffee.
"Good morning and merry Christmas squid." She greeted Harm, handing him a cup of coffee.
"Good morning and merry Christmas to you too, marine." he replied, placing the large bag he was carrying beside the sofa. "I see you bought the entire toy store out for you darling daughter here." he commented, noticing the enormous pile of presents under the tree. Mac grinned sheepishly and shrugged."
"I know I spoil her rotten, but what can I say? I love her to bits. How can I not spoil her?"
Harm laughed. "I totally agree with you there. I bought the two of you some presents as well."
"Ooh goodie." They laughed and went to sit on the sofa. Harm pulled out his presents to Ali from his bag and handed them to her.
"Can I open them yet mummy?" she asked, still squirming with excitement.
"Sure thing, sweetheart."
Ali eagerly tore the paper off her first present and her eyes lit up when she saw what Harm had bought for her.
"What do you say, miss?" Mac asked her daughter, who was now moving to the next present.
"Thank you Unca Harm!" the excited girl exclaimed. Harm laughed and reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small brightly wrapped box.
"Merry Christmas, Mac." he said fondly.
Mac cautiously took the box. She opened the paper carefully before very slowly opening the jewellery box that was underneath the wrapping paper. She gasped when she saw what was inside.
"Oh Harm, this is way too much." she said, staring mesmerised by the beautiful piece of jewellery.
"No its not. I wanted to get you something to show you how much you mean to me, Sarah." he told her seriously, trying to convey with his eyes what his mouth could not.
Soon, Sarah, soon. I will let go and I'll be able to tell you soon. I just need a little more time. When we're both ready for this. he thought, looking beseechingly at her, hoping that she got the message. She smiled at him, knowing exactly what he was trying to convey and also knowing how hard it was for him to show his emotions like he was.
"It's beautiful, Harm. Thank you." she said sincerely, her smile reaching to her eyes.
"May I?" Harm asked, holding out his hand for the necklace.
"Of course." he took the necklace and hung it around her neck, admiring it.
"Thankyou so much, Harm." she said, her voice thick with emotion. He understood how she was feeling. All her life, no one had really loved her like they ought to and she wasn't used to people treating her like she was really worth something. True, being at JAG had given her a wonderful surrogate family who made her, for the first time in her life, feel proud of who she was, but no one had ever given her something like Harm had given her, just because she was important to them. It overwhelmed her that someone could be that kind, but then again, wasn't that one of the reasons that she had fallen in love with Harm in the first place?
"Hey Harm, do you want your present now?" she asked him.
"Uh huh." he nodded eagerly.
"Well then grab your coat and come with me, because it ain't here." she stated picking up Ali. "All right little missy. You're going to go and stay with Mrs Phelps for a little while, okay? She's the nice lady who gives you chocolate cookies." Ali's grin turned even wider at the mention of chocolate cookies and she grabbed a few of her new toys as Mac bundled her up. They locked up Mac's apartment and dropped Ali off with the lady next door, who had already agreed to look after her for a couple of hours.
Once they were into Mac's car she pulled out a blindfold and handed it to Harm, making him put it on. After much protesting he finally relented and she refused to tell him, despite his asking many times, where they were going.
A half hour later they arrived at the field where the Sarah was, unfortunately painted red, but with a huge blue ribbon tied to her tail and nose. Mac got out of the car then went around to the passenger side to help Harm out.
"Okay, you impatient flyboy, you can take off your blindfold now." she told him.
He removed the piece of cloth and gasped.
"What...how...." he stammered, at loss for what to say. "You...you bought me a new plane?"
"Well, not new." she said. "Harm, I'd like you to meet your new plane, the Sarah, which is really just your old plane which some nasty guy painted red to try and sell. But there's still a yellow plane under there and it's still your Sarah." she said, a look of immense satisfaction evident on her face.
"Mac....I can't believe it. You found my plane! I'd practically given up on ever finding it. Thank you so much." He kissed her cheek and grabbed her pulling her into a tight affectionate hug.
"Merry Christmas, Harm." came her muffled voice from buried in his chest.
"Merry Christmas Sarah."
"Which one?" she teased her best friend lightly.
"You, silly." he told her, poking her side and making her giggle.
She grinned up at him before settling back into his warm embrace. He hugged her to him even tighter and placed a light kiss on the top of her head and murmured softly.
"Merry Christmas, Sarah."
A/N: Okay everyone, you know the drill. I write, you review. I posted two chapter last time and I got hardly any reviews and that made me sad. As I have said, you probably won't get another chapter for a while with school going back, but I promise that I'll do my very best.
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Please do send in your letter because every one counts. A big thankyou to everyone who sends a letter. God Bless.