Title : Where The Sea Meets The Sky
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I forgot to include a disclaimer for NCIS last chapter, so here it is now...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigale, kjflygirl87, anna7 and nikki for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
abigaile Thanks for the support.
skyefire Yes, me too. I've said before, I like Dunstan's character, I just need to work it more in the story. Not quite sure where he's going yet!
jtbwriter Hiya! What can I say? I hope you like the next couple of chapters! Should give you something else to think about when you're at work! :o) Thanks as always.
claysmvl Thanks for the support.
ninjaturtle I try to work on having a chapter in hand as I post each preceding one. For now it's working! Re Dunstan, he'll be back. I didn't want to spoil the weekend! (Bearing in mind the middle east generally works on a Thursday/Friday 'weekend'.)
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BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL
MANAMA
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
THURSDAY, LATE AFTERNOON
When Varese had led Mac and Mattie away to sample the delights of the beauty shop and the boutique, Harm had accompanied Sturgis to the floor Varese had told them, and they found themselves walking from the elevator onto a terrace that lay between four doors. Each door led to a suite, and from the numbers on the cards Sturgis held, they could determine to whom which suite belonged. Before going in search of luggage and showers, however, Varese had also made good on her offer of cold beer. A tray was set on the table, with a half dozen imported beer bottles and frosted glasses. Harm and Sturgis took a seat each at the table and opened a couple of bottles, using the frosted glasses to drink from. As each man downed at least half a bottle in their first drink, they savored the taste of the cold liquid as it hit the back of their throats and went down in a cool slide. Harm was the first to find his voice.
"So, buddy, tell me more about your girl, Varese. You know all about mine already."
"Not true, Harm. There's more to Mac and you than you're letting on right now. However, I'm a patient man, and I'll find out one way or another, later."
"You planning on getting me drunk?" Harm laughed at the thought, and remembered a time or two when he and Sturgis had been drunk, especially when they were much younger.
"Nah, at least not tonight. I have other plans. But there's always tomorrow. Beware. So, what do you want to know about Varese?"
"Just that, why Varese and not Bobbi?"
"Ah, you want to know why I was such a 'sanctimonious prig' to use my own words. Well, I had thought Bobbi and I were heading towards some big decisions, but it turned out she had already made some big decisions, and I wasn't necessarily included, unless I became a lackey to her campaigns."
"I'm sorry it didn't work out. I honestly thought you two were good for each other."
"So did I, Harm. So did I. Anyway, I should thank Bobbi for one thing at least," and Sturgis stopped to take another swig of his drink.
"And what's that?" Harm asked, waiting for the answer.
"If it wasn't for splitting with her, I wouldn't have met Varese. Now I think I have a taste of what you and Mac share. The good part, that is," Sturgis added, laughing. "No way do I want all those years of angst with it!"
"We could have done without it, Sturg, but then it wouldn't have brought us to where we are today."
"And where is that, exactly?"
"Exactly where we want to be," Harm answered cryptically, and Sturgis threw one of the seat cushions at him in disgust. Harm grinned, and added softly "We're doing okay, Sturgis. There are a couple of other things we want to tell you, but together. So you're going to have to wait, and I'm going to get myself out of this gear and into a decent shower. Now, which room is mine again?"
BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL
LES PALMES COCKTAIL LOUNGE
THURSDAY EVENING
Harm and Sturgis had been contacted and informed that they were to meet their 'party' in the lobby lounge for cocktails, followed by dining in the Spiga restaurant, from where Varese would entertain her special guests, and other diners. Both men had been just slightly disappointed that they hadn't had chance to spend time alone with their respective partner, but a quick note from Varese had assured them both that it would be well worth the wait. So the two men now stood at the bar, drinking a complimentary cocktail, and talking about life in general and nothing in particular, and waited.
Sturgis saw them first, as he was facing the entrance of the bar area.
"Oh my," he murmured, and straightened up. Harm followed suit, turning to look as he did so. While Sturgis had managed to utter the two words, Harm found he couldn't even put together two letters!
Varese, given her role as the singer for the evening's live entertainment, was wearing a long evening gown of fiery red at the base rising to a burnt orange strapless bustier top. Beside her, Mac wore a pale pink halter top dress that ended just above her knees, and she wore sheer nude stockings with strappy sandals in the same pink shade as the dress. As she caught Harm's gaze on her, and her outfit, she knew the pampering in the salon and the boutique would be nothing in comparison to the pampering Harm would bestow on her later. The light make-up did nothing to hide the blush on her cheeks at that thought! If the two women looked spectacular, Harm was literally struck dumb at the sight of Mattie, as Mac stepped to one side and the teenager came forward between Mac and Varese.
"Harm?" Mac prompted, realizing that this was the first time Harm had seen Mattie in anything but 'teenage' clothes, with her hair at best tamed by a band, at worst wild and unrestrained. Harm walked forward and took Mattie's hands in his.
"You look beautiful, Mattie," he murmured, his gaze taking in her hair now drawn up at the back of her head with clips, leaving stray curls to bounce on her shoulders. The dress she wore was a mix of greens, bringing out the blues and greens of her eyes. (While they were lighter than Harm's irises, the similarities were uncanny.) On her feet she wore low-heeled black pumps, and carried a black novelty purse. He grinned down at her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. From behind them, both Mattie and Harm heard Sturgis speak.
"Boy, have you got your work cut out for you, Harm," he murmured, giving Mattie a smile of approval too. "You and I, buddy, are going to be the envy of the room tonight."
"Yeah, you bet." Harm's response was instant, and as he sought out both Mac and Varese above Mattie's bent head, he smiled his thanks for what they had done to involve Mattie in their ministrations. Mac moved forward and put her arm around Mattie's shoulder as Harm dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. Varese stepped around the small group and walked into Sturgis' embrace. Sharing a kiss, they both then turned to watch Harm and Mac with Mattie. Varese murmured something and Sturgis leaned forward to catch her words.
"They look so good together, Sturgis. A family."
"Yeah, they do, don't they?" Suddenly it struck Sturgis as to just what Harm might have been so cryptic about lately. Smiling to himself, he kept quiet. Harm would tell him eventually; he had already mentioned that he wanted Mac with him when Sturgis was told. So, it was a joint effort! As he had already told Harm, he was a patient man. He could wait.
The evening was wonderful. Throughout the meal the five kept up a lively conversation, and when Varese rose from the table to perform her music sets, the four left would listen raptly to the varied tones of her repertoire. Each time Varese returned to their table she was welcomed with applause, and a congratulatory kiss from Sturgis. As the evening wore on and the meal came to an end, there was some dancing between the five of them, and at some point in the proceedings, as Mac danced with Harm, they both kept an eye on a younger couple dancing close by. Mattie had made a friend, the son of an American couple working in Bahrain, who was visiting from university. Blaise, as he had introduced himself to Harm and Mac first, then Mattie, had asked Harm's permission to dance with his 'daughter', and Harm had glanced at Mattie first, taking in the surprise at the gesture of courtesy, and the pleasure at the words used. Mattie nodded slightly and Harm turned back to Blaise. He nodded, and Blaise turned to Mattie to help her to her feet and out to the dance floor. Mac had watched all this in silence, and she knew that aside from the lump in his throat that had stopped him from speaking momentarily, he had given the younger man the silent 'you hurt her, you die' look reserved for all fathers to use on those boys and men that would dare approach their daughters. It made her smile. While she carried their first child, she accepted Mattie as Harm's 'daughter', and knew that the same emotions he felt for Mattie he would feel for his unborn child, girl or boy, no more and no less. They were both his children.
Dropping her hand momentarily from Harm's neck to rub her abdomen, Mac felt rather than saw his anxious look.
"Mac? Are you okay?"
Putting her hand back around his neck, and moving herself closer in his embrace she looked up at him with a soft smile. "I'm fine, Harm. I was just thinking about Mattie and Baby Rabb here..."
"I have to admit, this is a first," Harm stopped, realizing how his words sounded, and he smiled sheepishly. "I was talking about Mattie, this being the first time anyone has asked my permission for her to do something. I obviously said the right thing as neither of them answered back!" Mac laughed softly.
"I would say it was the 'look' that you gave Blaise that is keeping his hands where they should be, and for Mattie, she's growing up, Harm."
"I guess so," Harm nodded, musing as he looked again at the young couple, and then his gaze settled back on Mac's face. "Have I told you yet how stunning you look in that dress?"
"Yes, but feel free to tell me again," Mac invited, moving out of Harm's hold to perform a small turn in front of him, and then going back to him. As she glanced up at him through her lashes she saw that his eyes had darkened.
"What I really want to tell you is not suitable for present surroundings," Harm growled, dropping his head lower to rest against Mac's as he whispered in her ear.
Mac closed her eyes, as much to hide the flaring response to his words, as to simply feel the touch of his mouth against her ear, and the erotic brush of his tongue before he pulled away and looked down at her again.
"Open your eyes, Mac." The request was a whisper, and Mac obeyed, but it was so hard to do, when all she wanted was to move with Harm in another dance entirely!
"Mmn?" she muttered, and then realized that they were the only two still on the dance floor, the rest having returned to their respective tables. Glad that the darkened room hid most of her blush, Mac walked ahead of Harm to their table, but she could feel the heat from his body in every pore, and it was driving her crazy. It was on the tip of her tongue to plead some imagined distress that would require her returning to their suite, but Mattie provided the reason they needed to excuse themselves for the night.
"Harm, would it be okay if we left now? I'm really tired." This was said over the start of a yawn, and as Mattie finished speaking she put her hand over her mouth. "Oops, sorry."
"No problem, Mattie." Harm replied quickly, maybe a little too quickly? Sturgis hid a smile as he rose to his feet to drop a kiss on both Mattie and Mac's cheeks, and to clap Harm on the shoulder. Varese had risen with him, and she too kissed Mattie and Mac, and also Harm.
"It has been so wonderful meeting you, and as I'm free tomorrow, I'm looking forward to spending some more time with you all."
"See you in the morning," Sturgis added. "Whenever you're ready. Varese has organized brunch to be served on the terrace up there, so we all get a lie-in."
"Goodnight, then." Harm escorted Mac and Mattie out of the restaurant, and Mattie turned at the door to give Blaise a wave. The gesture was returned, and Mattie walked along beside them with a small smile on her face.
Once they reached the penthouse floor Harm opened the door to Mattie's suite for her and handed her the key. Neither Mac nor Mattie had visited the floor yet - their luggage had been brought up earlier in the afternoon when they arrived, and they had literally gone from the beauty salon, to the boutique, and then to the lobby bar to meet up with Harm and Sturgis. As Mattie walked into the suite, her breath was taken in a gasp.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Mattie turned in a circle, and then came back to face Harm and Mac. "Would one of you pinch me? I think I'm dreaming!" she whispered. Both Harm and Mac pulled her into a hug, and then moved back a little.
"It's all real, but unfortunately only to last for another day. There's no reason why we can't take a longer holiday here some other time, though."
"Really? That would be great, Harm. Thank you both, for this time with you. It...it means a lot." With those quick words, and an even quicker kiss for each of them, Mattie hid another yawn behind her hand and smiled apologetically. "At this rate I'm going to fall asleep fully dressed."
Harm and Mac grinned as they took the hint. "Goodnight, Mattie. You know where we are if you need us for anything."
Mattie nodded, and waved as she closed the door to her suite. Harm waited to hear the lock click, just as he did back in DC, before he moved away to the suite next door. Mac grinned at him, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"What?" he questioned softly, opening the door and ushering her inside.
"Do you think she did that deliberately? To get us out quick?"
"Knowing Mattie, it's a possibility, but I do think she is genuinely tired. It's been a long day all round, today; aren't you tired?" Harm had maneuvered Mac up against the door as he had closed and locked it, and at that precise moment his mouth was moving against her neck as he spoke, hoping that she wouldn't say yes to his last question.
Mac's eyelids closed again, and she managed a nod in response to something, and then realized that Harm seemed to be waiting for an answer and she dredged for the question. "Um...tired, a little, but not too tired for this, sailor. I've been waiting for this moment all day..."
"Hmmn, and so who am I to disappoint the lady?" Harm bent and picked Mac up, intending to head for the bedroom.
"Harm, your back...I'm heavy!"
"My back is fine, and you're as light as a feather." Harm returned quickly, still aiming for the bedroom, but Mac chose that moment to blow gently on his ear and whisper something to him.
They just made it to the couch, which was closer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued
A/N :
1. I haven't been inside the Sheraton in Bahrain for a long time, so I have no idea what the room structure is like, or if they even have a penthouse floor of suites. This, then, is all in my imagination.
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV - and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I forgot to include a disclaimer for NCIS last chapter, so here it is now...I'll leave it in for the rest of the story; makes life easier when I need to 'borrow' Gibbs and his team!)
Rating : G to PG-13
Thanks go to cbw, jtbwriter, beegirl, katydid13, ninjaturtle, capriceann, starryeyes10, kirsten, soonerfan, another tracy, tomcat-all, lori4, carol, eliv.thade, alicia5, fragmentpieces, kesh, claysmvl, chicmns, skyefire, tammy-jet, abigale, kjflygirl87, anna7 and nikki for their reviews. As before, any reviewers I miss between posts will be added to the list for the next chapter!
Replies to previous chapter reviews :
abigaile Thanks for the support.
skyefire Yes, me too. I've said before, I like Dunstan's character, I just need to work it more in the story. Not quite sure where he's going yet!
jtbwriter Hiya! What can I say? I hope you like the next couple of chapters! Should give you something else to think about when you're at work! :o) Thanks as always.
claysmvl Thanks for the support.
ninjaturtle I try to work on having a chapter in hand as I post each preceding one. For now it's working! Re Dunstan, he'll be back. I didn't want to spoil the weekend! (Bearing in mind the middle east generally works on a Thursday/Friday 'weekend'.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL
MANAMA
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
THURSDAY, LATE AFTERNOON
When Varese had led Mac and Mattie away to sample the delights of the beauty shop and the boutique, Harm had accompanied Sturgis to the floor Varese had told them, and they found themselves walking from the elevator onto a terrace that lay between four doors. Each door led to a suite, and from the numbers on the cards Sturgis held, they could determine to whom which suite belonged. Before going in search of luggage and showers, however, Varese had also made good on her offer of cold beer. A tray was set on the table, with a half dozen imported beer bottles and frosted glasses. Harm and Sturgis took a seat each at the table and opened a couple of bottles, using the frosted glasses to drink from. As each man downed at least half a bottle in their first drink, they savored the taste of the cold liquid as it hit the back of their throats and went down in a cool slide. Harm was the first to find his voice.
"So, buddy, tell me more about your girl, Varese. You know all about mine already."
"Not true, Harm. There's more to Mac and you than you're letting on right now. However, I'm a patient man, and I'll find out one way or another, later."
"You planning on getting me drunk?" Harm laughed at the thought, and remembered a time or two when he and Sturgis had been drunk, especially when they were much younger.
"Nah, at least not tonight. I have other plans. But there's always tomorrow. Beware. So, what do you want to know about Varese?"
"Just that, why Varese and not Bobbi?"
"Ah, you want to know why I was such a 'sanctimonious prig' to use my own words. Well, I had thought Bobbi and I were heading towards some big decisions, but it turned out she had already made some big decisions, and I wasn't necessarily included, unless I became a lackey to her campaigns."
"I'm sorry it didn't work out. I honestly thought you two were good for each other."
"So did I, Harm. So did I. Anyway, I should thank Bobbi for one thing at least," and Sturgis stopped to take another swig of his drink.
"And what's that?" Harm asked, waiting for the answer.
"If it wasn't for splitting with her, I wouldn't have met Varese. Now I think I have a taste of what you and Mac share. The good part, that is," Sturgis added, laughing. "No way do I want all those years of angst with it!"
"We could have done without it, Sturg, but then it wouldn't have brought us to where we are today."
"And where is that, exactly?"
"Exactly where we want to be," Harm answered cryptically, and Sturgis threw one of the seat cushions at him in disgust. Harm grinned, and added softly "We're doing okay, Sturgis. There are a couple of other things we want to tell you, but together. So you're going to have to wait, and I'm going to get myself out of this gear and into a decent shower. Now, which room is mine again?"
BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL
LES PALMES COCKTAIL LOUNGE
THURSDAY EVENING
Harm and Sturgis had been contacted and informed that they were to meet their 'party' in the lobby lounge for cocktails, followed by dining in the Spiga restaurant, from where Varese would entertain her special guests, and other diners. Both men had been just slightly disappointed that they hadn't had chance to spend time alone with their respective partner, but a quick note from Varese had assured them both that it would be well worth the wait. So the two men now stood at the bar, drinking a complimentary cocktail, and talking about life in general and nothing in particular, and waited.
Sturgis saw them first, as he was facing the entrance of the bar area.
"Oh my," he murmured, and straightened up. Harm followed suit, turning to look as he did so. While Sturgis had managed to utter the two words, Harm found he couldn't even put together two letters!
Varese, given her role as the singer for the evening's live entertainment, was wearing a long evening gown of fiery red at the base rising to a burnt orange strapless bustier top. Beside her, Mac wore a pale pink halter top dress that ended just above her knees, and she wore sheer nude stockings with strappy sandals in the same pink shade as the dress. As she caught Harm's gaze on her, and her outfit, she knew the pampering in the salon and the boutique would be nothing in comparison to the pampering Harm would bestow on her later. The light make-up did nothing to hide the blush on her cheeks at that thought! If the two women looked spectacular, Harm was literally struck dumb at the sight of Mattie, as Mac stepped to one side and the teenager came forward between Mac and Varese.
"Harm?" Mac prompted, realizing that this was the first time Harm had seen Mattie in anything but 'teenage' clothes, with her hair at best tamed by a band, at worst wild and unrestrained. Harm walked forward and took Mattie's hands in his.
"You look beautiful, Mattie," he murmured, his gaze taking in her hair now drawn up at the back of her head with clips, leaving stray curls to bounce on her shoulders. The dress she wore was a mix of greens, bringing out the blues and greens of her eyes. (While they were lighter than Harm's irises, the similarities were uncanny.) On her feet she wore low-heeled black pumps, and carried a black novelty purse. He grinned down at her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. From behind them, both Mattie and Harm heard Sturgis speak.
"Boy, have you got your work cut out for you, Harm," he murmured, giving Mattie a smile of approval too. "You and I, buddy, are going to be the envy of the room tonight."
"Yeah, you bet." Harm's response was instant, and as he sought out both Mac and Varese above Mattie's bent head, he smiled his thanks for what they had done to involve Mattie in their ministrations. Mac moved forward and put her arm around Mattie's shoulder as Harm dropped a kiss on her upturned lips. Varese stepped around the small group and walked into Sturgis' embrace. Sharing a kiss, they both then turned to watch Harm and Mac with Mattie. Varese murmured something and Sturgis leaned forward to catch her words.
"They look so good together, Sturgis. A family."
"Yeah, they do, don't they?" Suddenly it struck Sturgis as to just what Harm might have been so cryptic about lately. Smiling to himself, he kept quiet. Harm would tell him eventually; he had already mentioned that he wanted Mac with him when Sturgis was told. So, it was a joint effort! As he had already told Harm, he was a patient man. He could wait.
The evening was wonderful. Throughout the meal the five kept up a lively conversation, and when Varese rose from the table to perform her music sets, the four left would listen raptly to the varied tones of her repertoire. Each time Varese returned to their table she was welcomed with applause, and a congratulatory kiss from Sturgis. As the evening wore on and the meal came to an end, there was some dancing between the five of them, and at some point in the proceedings, as Mac danced with Harm, they both kept an eye on a younger couple dancing close by. Mattie had made a friend, the son of an American couple working in Bahrain, who was visiting from university. Blaise, as he had introduced himself to Harm and Mac first, then Mattie, had asked Harm's permission to dance with his 'daughter', and Harm had glanced at Mattie first, taking in the surprise at the gesture of courtesy, and the pleasure at the words used. Mattie nodded slightly and Harm turned back to Blaise. He nodded, and Blaise turned to Mattie to help her to her feet and out to the dance floor. Mac had watched all this in silence, and she knew that aside from the lump in his throat that had stopped him from speaking momentarily, he had given the younger man the silent 'you hurt her, you die' look reserved for all fathers to use on those boys and men that would dare approach their daughters. It made her smile. While she carried their first child, she accepted Mattie as Harm's 'daughter', and knew that the same emotions he felt for Mattie he would feel for his unborn child, girl or boy, no more and no less. They were both his children.
Dropping her hand momentarily from Harm's neck to rub her abdomen, Mac felt rather than saw his anxious look.
"Mac? Are you okay?"
Putting her hand back around his neck, and moving herself closer in his embrace she looked up at him with a soft smile. "I'm fine, Harm. I was just thinking about Mattie and Baby Rabb here..."
"I have to admit, this is a first," Harm stopped, realizing how his words sounded, and he smiled sheepishly. "I was talking about Mattie, this being the first time anyone has asked my permission for her to do something. I obviously said the right thing as neither of them answered back!" Mac laughed softly.
"I would say it was the 'look' that you gave Blaise that is keeping his hands where they should be, and for Mattie, she's growing up, Harm."
"I guess so," Harm nodded, musing as he looked again at the young couple, and then his gaze settled back on Mac's face. "Have I told you yet how stunning you look in that dress?"
"Yes, but feel free to tell me again," Mac invited, moving out of Harm's hold to perform a small turn in front of him, and then going back to him. As she glanced up at him through her lashes she saw that his eyes had darkened.
"What I really want to tell you is not suitable for present surroundings," Harm growled, dropping his head lower to rest against Mac's as he whispered in her ear.
Mac closed her eyes, as much to hide the flaring response to his words, as to simply feel the touch of his mouth against her ear, and the erotic brush of his tongue before he pulled away and looked down at her again.
"Open your eyes, Mac." The request was a whisper, and Mac obeyed, but it was so hard to do, when all she wanted was to move with Harm in another dance entirely!
"Mmn?" she muttered, and then realized that they were the only two still on the dance floor, the rest having returned to their respective tables. Glad that the darkened room hid most of her blush, Mac walked ahead of Harm to their table, but she could feel the heat from his body in every pore, and it was driving her crazy. It was on the tip of her tongue to plead some imagined distress that would require her returning to their suite, but Mattie provided the reason they needed to excuse themselves for the night.
"Harm, would it be okay if we left now? I'm really tired." This was said over the start of a yawn, and as Mattie finished speaking she put her hand over her mouth. "Oops, sorry."
"No problem, Mattie." Harm replied quickly, maybe a little too quickly? Sturgis hid a smile as he rose to his feet to drop a kiss on both Mattie and Mac's cheeks, and to clap Harm on the shoulder. Varese had risen with him, and she too kissed Mattie and Mac, and also Harm.
"It has been so wonderful meeting you, and as I'm free tomorrow, I'm looking forward to spending some more time with you all."
"See you in the morning," Sturgis added. "Whenever you're ready. Varese has organized brunch to be served on the terrace up there, so we all get a lie-in."
"Goodnight, then." Harm escorted Mac and Mattie out of the restaurant, and Mattie turned at the door to give Blaise a wave. The gesture was returned, and Mattie walked along beside them with a small smile on her face.
Once they reached the penthouse floor Harm opened the door to Mattie's suite for her and handed her the key. Neither Mac nor Mattie had visited the floor yet - their luggage had been brought up earlier in the afternoon when they arrived, and they had literally gone from the beauty salon, to the boutique, and then to the lobby bar to meet up with Harm and Sturgis. As Mattie walked into the suite, her breath was taken in a gasp.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Mattie turned in a circle, and then came back to face Harm and Mac. "Would one of you pinch me? I think I'm dreaming!" she whispered. Both Harm and Mac pulled her into a hug, and then moved back a little.
"It's all real, but unfortunately only to last for another day. There's no reason why we can't take a longer holiday here some other time, though."
"Really? That would be great, Harm. Thank you both, for this time with you. It...it means a lot." With those quick words, and an even quicker kiss for each of them, Mattie hid another yawn behind her hand and smiled apologetically. "At this rate I'm going to fall asleep fully dressed."
Harm and Mac grinned as they took the hint. "Goodnight, Mattie. You know where we are if you need us for anything."
Mattie nodded, and waved as she closed the door to her suite. Harm waited to hear the lock click, just as he did back in DC, before he moved away to the suite next door. Mac grinned at him, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"What?" he questioned softly, opening the door and ushering her inside.
"Do you think she did that deliberately? To get us out quick?"
"Knowing Mattie, it's a possibility, but I do think she is genuinely tired. It's been a long day all round, today; aren't you tired?" Harm had maneuvered Mac up against the door as he had closed and locked it, and at that precise moment his mouth was moving against her neck as he spoke, hoping that she wouldn't say yes to his last question.
Mac's eyelids closed again, and she managed a nod in response to something, and then realized that Harm seemed to be waiting for an answer and she dredged for the question. "Um...tired, a little, but not too tired for this, sailor. I've been waiting for this moment all day..."
"Hmmn, and so who am I to disappoint the lady?" Harm bent and picked Mac up, intending to head for the bedroom.
"Harm, your back...I'm heavy!"
"My back is fine, and you're as light as a feather." Harm returned quickly, still aiming for the bedroom, but Mac chose that moment to blow gently on his ear and whisper something to him.
They just made it to the couch, which was closer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued
A/N :
1. I haven't been inside the Sheraton in Bahrain for a long time, so I have no idea what the room structure is like, or if they even have a penthouse floor of suites. This, then, is all in my imagination.