Chapter 10
Home is where your best friend is
A/N: I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter so much! I promise that from here on it will get even more shippery *cheers*. As usual, thanks sooooo much for everyone who reviewed with such nice reviews, especially vampiress24! Some of your guesses as to what's going to happen are getting very close *winks at BelovedOne*. So watch out for the next few chapters which will hopefully be up soon.
Sunday February 8
1330 local
"Hey Marine, what do you say to some lunch?" Harm called over the wind to Mac, sitting behind him.
"Of course. You need to ask?" she shouted back, grinning at the expressions she knew would be on her partner's face.
Sarah Mackenzie sat in the back seat of the Sarah, now yellow again, with Ali strapped to her lap and a wide grin on her face. Harm had asked her on Friday if the two of them would like to spend the weekend with him and she had gladly agreed. She was enjoying every moment spent with Harm, and things were going exceptionally well between them. They were spending the majority of their spare time with each other. They were completely comfortable around each other, if you ignored the ever present underlying tension between the two.
Their conversations had become more flirtatious of late, however this time, as opposed to the last time they were this close, the other would return the favour and flirt back, often quite shamelessly.
Harm set the Sarah down on a large field and being the perfect gentleman that he was, immediately went to help Mac and Ali out. Harm helped unstrap Ali from the harness, who was glad to be able to move again. Ali immediately took off toddling away from them. Mac was about to call after her but Harm stopped her.
"Don't worry about her, Mac. As long as she doesn't go too far, then she's fine. There's nothing dangerous here and because it's flat we'll easily be able to see her."
Mac nodded in agreement and watched her daughter chasing after a large blue butterfly, giggling madly at the tiny creature.
"Hey, Mac." Harm took her attention off her daughter and as she turned around her eyes went wide. There, on the grass behind her, was a picnic blanket with the contents of a large picnic basket spread out over it.
"Wow." she said, amazed at how much trouble he had obviously gone to for her. "This is incredible Harm. You didn't have to go to so much trouble. Not just for us, anyway."
"Course I did." he countered "and besides, it was nothing. I just wanted to please the two most important women in my life....or girls even." he amended, looking over at Ali who was now sitting amongst the tall grass, clapping her hands at something.
He rested his gaze back on Mac and she gave him a tender smile.
"Of course," Harm added, a mischievous grin on his face "I'm still not sure that you don't fit into the 'girl' category too. After all, you are somewhat immature at times."
"Jerk!" she poked him in the ribs playfully and he responded by hauling her up and slinging her over his shoulder.
"Harm!! Put me down." she demanded, laughing hysterically as he spun her around.
"No." he answered, still grinning. "I don't want to."
"HARMON RABB PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT OR YOU WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!" she shouted in her best drill sergeant voice, the seriousness of which was belied by her insistent giggling.
"Yes Ma'am." Harm shouted back, placing her gently down onto the picnic blanket and seating himself beside her. "Tell me, Colonel. What might those 'consequences' be? Anything I'd like?" he asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
"Oh, I don't know, Commander." she replied in a salacious voice. "You might."
She trailed her fingers slowly down his chest, aware of how good his muscles felt beneath her fingers, separated only by the thin fabric of his shirt. His breath caught in his through and she could see him trying to keep his accelerated breathing even. She inwardly smiled. He was not going to get what he was hoping for. Not by a long shot....
As her fingers reached his stomach she suddenly lunged at him, unexpectedly tickling his sides.
"Mac.....don't.....please....." he gasped in between fits of laughing and trying shove Mac away. Mac's only response was to shove him back and pin him down with her weight. Out of options, Harm suddenly bought his arms up and began to tickle her back.
"Aaagh......no.....stop it....." Mac begged him, giggling uncontrollably. Harm, now with the upper hand, merely smirked and continued with his merciless assault to Mac's side. Suddenly a scream interrupted their laughing and they both jumped up and rushed over to where Ali was sitting in the grass, clutching her left hand and wailing incessantly.
"Hey baby-doll. What happened." Mac picked Ali up, trying to soothe her. She was surprised when Ali kept on crying even after she had been picked up. Usually she stopped crying when Mac was there, but the fact that she was still wailing made Mac think that something serious had happened. She carried Ali back to their picnic blanket and set her down gently, kneeling down beside her.
"Okay precious, show mamma where it hurts." she told the screaming toddler. Ali held our her left hand for Mac to see and Mac could immediately see why Ali was crying.
"My poor baby. Did you get stung by a nasty old bee?" she asked rhetorically, inspecting the red swollen mark now appearing on Ali's hand.
"Shh," Mac soothed, finally getting Ali to quiet down a bit. "It's okay sweetheart. Let mamma kiss it better, hey?"
"Kith kith." Ali lisped, holding her hand out to Mac for her to kiss it better. She placed a gentle kiss on the red spot then examined it. Fortunately, it seemed that the stinger had already come out, but it still looked rather sore. She gathered Ali into her arms and held her close, rocking her back and forth until her sobs subsided.
"Does my beautiful baby want some lunch?"
Ali's face brightened instantaneously at the mention of some lunch and Harm, who had noticed this, chuckled to himself.
"What's so funny, sailor?"
Harm just smiled and shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. Just that your daughter seems to have inherited your insatiable appetite."
Mac poked her tongue out at him and turned her attention to the food.
An hour later the three of them were sitting contentedly, Harm leaning against a tree, Mac leaning back into his arms and Ali in Mac's arms, a damp washcloth on her hand over the bee sting. Ali was sleeping, Mac was dozing lightly and Harm was tenderly stroking Mac's hair. Ali began to stir and started to whimper and clutch her hand again. Her movements woke her mother and when Mac lifted the washcloth to take a look, she grimaced when she saw how swollen it had become. When she removed Ali's jacket to take a look at the rest of her arm, however, it was much worse than Mac had imagined and she blanched at the sight. Ali's arm had become swollen almost all the way up to her shoulder, and it was now obvious to Mac that her daughter was highly allergic to bee stings.
"Harm, we need to get her to a hospital. She must be allergic to bee stings and the swelling's getting dangerously close to her neck."
Harm took a look at the bee sting, the once again sobbing toddler, and agreed. They made quick work of packing everything up and fairly soon they were on their way back in the Sarah.
Sunday February 8
1530 local
Bethesda
Mac sat with her daughter in her lap while Harm hovered protectively around. True, he was annoying in his impatience and over protectiveness, but Mac couldn't help but think what a wonderful father he'd make one day. She held Ali tight while the nurse came back and gave her an injection to reduce the swelling and take away the pain and itching of the sting.
"Say, munchkin, seeing as you've been such a brave girl today, what do you say we go and get some ice cream?" Mac suggested as they left the hospital. Ali's eyes lit up at the prospect and soon she was slurping happily on a large strawberry ice cream, Mac with a large chocolate one, from which Harm stole the occasional lick.
"You want to come back to my place for some coffee, Mac?" Harm asked her, feeling that they could both use the chance to relax a bit.
"I dunno, Harm. As much as I'd love to, I really think I should get Ali home."
"I know, but you look as though you should take a break for a moment. Why don't you come back to my place for just an hour or so and you can put your feet up without having to worry about taking care of Ali."
"Oh Harm, I couldn't ask you to do that." she argued, all the while knowing what was coming. Harm just grinned at her and said nothing.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I didn't ask, you offered." she thought about it for a moment then conceded. "Okay, sounds good. We're going to your place."
Sunday February 8
2230 local
Harm's apartment
Mac sighed as she lay back on the couch, putting her feet up on the coffee table. Ali had fallen asleep a few hours ago and, not wanting to take her home and risk waking her up now that she was finally asleep, Mac had agreed to stay the night. Now, Ali was in Harm's bed, where Mac would soon join her, with Harm volunteering to take the couch, despite Mac's protests that he was too long for it. Harm came out of his bedroom with a pair of sweat pants and a t shirt for her to wear to bed and threw them to her. She smiled her thanks and went to change.
She emerged from the bathroom and went to find Harm, locating him sprawled out across the couch. She went over to him and, much to his surprise, gave him a hug.
"Thanks, Harm. For everything. I really mean it."
Harm gave her an affectionate smile. "You're welcome, Sarah. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Harm."
With that Mac got up and headed into Harm's bedroom and climbed into his bed next to Ali. On the outside, she was calm and serene, but on the inside she was jumping around. He had called her Sarah! She smiled in the darkness. It made her feel so special hearing her given name come from his lips and gave her goosebumps. Her smile widened. He had called her Sarah. Maybe they really were getting somewhere.
Monday February 9
0147 local
Harm's apartment
Harm lay awake on his couch, listening to the rain beat down outside. He tried valiantly to stop his thoughts from straying to the woman in his bedroom, but to no avail. No matter what he thought of - cars, flying, work - his thoughts still ended up on her somehow - cherry red corvettes, the Sarah, his work partner. Having long ago given up on both sleep and trying to think of something other than Mac, Harm pulled himself up off the couch and went to stand by the open window, letting the cool breeze play over his face. He stared down and out into the dark street below, trying to collect his thoughts and sort out his feelings. He still loved Mac, that much he knew, he had never stopped loving her in the time that she was away. Seeing her again, and seeing how strong and independent she was had just made him love her even more, if that was possible.
As much as he felt he was getting a second chance to make things work with Mac, he didn't dare make a move just yet. She wasn't emotionally ready for another relationship, especially one with him, and he didn't want to push her. Even so, he vowed to himself that when she was ready he would tell her exactly how he felt.
Harm was so caught up in his thoughts that he literally jumped when he heard a noise from his bedroom. Deciding to check on 'the girls' he poked his head into his room to see if they were alright. Ali was sleeping quite peacefully, but Mac, on the other hand, was tossing and turning.
"No" she moaned softly, grasping the sheets tightly in one fist. Harm looked at her, concerned. She moaned again, louder this time.
"No, please don't take her. She's my baby, leave her alone. Don't take her, you can't have her. No, NO!" Mac's moans were starting to get louder until she was almost shouting. She had by this time managed to entangle the sheets around her slender body and she was gripping one corner of the sheet so hard that her knuckles had turned white.
"Mac" Harm called gently, placing a hand over her arm. She didn't respond and he tried again, louder.
"Mac"
She continued about in the throes of her nightmare. Harm, getting desperate, touched his hand to her flushed cheek.
"Sarah"
Mac gave a gasp as her eyelids flew open, her eyes darting frantically around the room.
"Ali" she gasped, "Where's my baby?"
"It's alright Mac, she's just fine, see? She's right there beside you."
Harm gently picked up Ali and placed her into her mother's trembling arms. Mac held her daughter close and buried her face in Ali's curly hair, still trembling. Harm climbed onto the bed and sat beside them and pulled Mac, still holding Ali, into his lap. He held Mac tight and gently rocked the two of them in his arms. When she had calmed down enough, Harm motioned for Mac to put Ali back on the other side of the bed.
"What happened?" Harm asked, still rocking Mac in his lap and absentmindedly stroking her sleep tousled hair. "Was it a dream or a vision?"
"A dream. More of a nightmare, really. It was Rob. He tried to take her away from me. He tried to hurt her.
"Ali?" Mac nodded in confirmation, tears forming in the corners of her sleepy eyes.
"I'm just so scared, Harm." she admitted. "I'm terrified that something is going to happen to Ali." More tears welled in her eyes and they spilled over, trailing down her cheeks, where Harm wiped them gently away.
"Shh," Harm soothed gently, rocking her back and forth. "It'll be alright. Firstly, she's going to be safe because you're a strong woman. I know that you'd do everything you could to protect that beautiful girl of yours."
"But I'm not strong." Mac argued tearfully. "I mean, just look at me. One little dream and I'm reduced to tears."
Harm shook his head. "You are strong, Sarah. Just look at yourself. You've had more than your fair share of lousy circumstances and yet you've managed to come out on top every time."
"I wouldn't say that -- " she began, but Harm interrupted her.
"As for the tears, crying doesn't automatically make you weak. You're a passionate person and crying is just one way of expressing you're emotions."
"I'm not passionate either," she argued again "and I'm definitely not strong. Crying is a sign of weakness. Rob always said so."
"Yeah, well, he's wrong." Harm countered. "You, Sarah, are one of the strongest most passionate people I know and that's just one of the many reasons that I love you so much."
Mac's gaze leapt from the bed and up to Harm's eyes.
"What did you just say?" she whispered, hardly daring to hope. Harm, realising what he had just let slip, tried to cover it.
"I said that you were one of the most strong and passionate people I know."
Mac's heart sank. Here they were again. Harmon Rabb Jr. was once again unable to talk to her about his feelings, and Mac was suddenly angry. Something inside her snapped. The last few months had been an emotional roller coaster for her and she refused to sit around and let Harm toy with her feelings like that.
"Dammit, Harm. Why must you always do this to me?" she demanded angrily, at the same time trying to keep her voice low. Harm was taken aback and tried to say something, but Mac kept on talking, not allowing him to get a word in.
"Why is it that you can never confront your feelings without backing away? I'm sick of it Harm. Every time we have a conversation like this you're
always changing the subject or answering questions with questions or just plain ignoring what I have to say. You never give me a straight answer."
She took a breath and continued.
"Well, this time you are going to give me a straight answer - and an honest one at that - or else I'm walking out of here because my heart's not up to being strung along and thrown about at the moment. So tell me this: did you mean what you just said? Do you really love me?"
Harm looked into her eyes and answered simply and honestly, without beating about the bush.
"Always, Sarah. With all my heart."
Mac let out the breath she hadn't realised that she had been holding.
"Good," she replied softly "because since coming back I've fallen even more in love with you, all over again."
She reached up and placed a trembling hand over his jaw, which was coarse with stubble. He covered her hand with his own and placed a soft kiss on it. Mac, only centimetres from Harm, not to mention still in his lap, moved forward ever so slowly until her lips were almost on his. She could feel his warm breath on the sensitive skin of her face momentarily before he closed the gap between them, pressing his lip to hers. He kissed her so softly, so lovingly that she began to tremble. No one had ever treated her like this, like she was someone truly special. True, Rob had come close, but never had he made her feel so loved, like she was the only person in the world to him, which was how she felt now. Harm, noticing her trembling, got the wrong idea and pulled back slightly.
Mac would have none of that.
Grabbing him by the back of his neck, she brought his lips back to hers, kissing him deeply. He responded ardently and allowed his hands to roam over her body. Mac moaned as his tongue swept into her mouth and his wandering hands sent tremors of heat coursing through her body. It had been so long since anyone had touched her like that - only a few times since Ali had been born, and even then it was just sex, not love - and now after just a taste of it, just one loving touch from Harm, her body craved more. He moaned her name as she kissed him hungrily, greedily, almost desperately, pulling him as close as was possible, revelling in the taste of his kiss. Suddenly, a thought jumped into her head, and with great difficulty and reluctance she pulled herself away from Harm, whimpering at the loss of contact.
"Harm." she gasped breathing heavily. "We have to stop..."
"I know. You're not ready for something like this...." he trailed off. "I'm sorry"
"Hell, I'm not. I can't remember how many times I've wished for that to happen."
"Then what...?"
"Ali" she replied simply. Harm blinked as he remembered the sleeping two year old who was right next to them.
"I think that maybe we should talk." he said still trying to slow his breathing.
"Yeah, we should." Mac agreed, getting off his lap and tugging him to his feet.
"Mac, what are you doing?" he asked, confused.
"We're going into the other room so that we can talk."
"Now?" he asked dubiously.
"Why not? There's no time like the present. Besides, if we don't talk now then I'm afraid that we'll never end up talking. And then everything will just get screwed up." she declared.
"Not this time." he told her, his voice low. "This time I'm not letting you go. I've had enough of screwing everything up and we are going to make this work. I promise you."
"Don't make a promise you can't keep." she told him softly.
"I haven't yet, and I mean what I said. I'm tired of screwing everything up when it comes to you. I know that we should talk but now isn't the time."
Mac was about to argue but he raised his hand, forestalling any comment, and pulled her back down to sit next to him.
"Just listen to me, alright? Now isn't the time for us to talk about everything, but I am going to say what needs to be said right now, and that's this. I love you, Sarah, and you mean the world to me. You are my reason to live and nothing in the world makes me more happy than being with you. You are the centre of my life and I want you to know that."
Mac looked at him, barely able to believe what she was hearing. The great Harmon Rabb Jr, always hiding his feelings, had just told her that she meant the world to him. She threw her arms around him and he held her close, kissing the top of her head.
"You know, you really ought to go back to sleep, Mac."
"Yeah, I should, and so should you. We both have work tomorrow."
"Exactly. So off to bed with you, marine. Come on and I'll tuck you in." she grinned at him and got back into bed beside Ali.
"Harm? Do you think that.... that you could hold me?" she asked tentatively.
"Of course. I'd like nothing more." he slipped into bed beside her and wrapped his arms protectively around her. She smiled and sighed contentedly. It felt so....so right being in his arms. She wondered if he had been there before, then maybe she wouldn't have had the nightmare. Of course, if she hadn't, then they wouldn't be lying here so comfortably and contentedly.
"Harm?" she murmured, snuggling deeper into his embrace
"Yeah, sweetheart?" Mac giggled at the endearment.
"I'm sorry that I woke you up before."
"That's alright. I wasn't asleep anyway. Actually, I couldn't sleep - all I could think about was the beautiful woman in my bedroom." he told her. She decided that she liked this new sweet side of Harm that she was getting to see.
"Are you going to......sleep better now?" She asked, yawning.
"Mmm hmmm." he mumbled back. "Night Sarah."
"G'night Harm. I love you."
"Love you too, baby."
A/N: As usual, peoples, I LOVE reviews (hint hint). As you know, I have lots of school work to be doing, but I'm going to do my very best to write and post a valentines day chapter for you!
Also, just a reminder to you all: have you sent in your petition for JAG on DVD? If not, the address is in the authors note in the last chapter. Please send one in, because every letter counts!