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, abigaile, 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 :
nikki that's why I love writing - you can create anything you want! This update is a little delayed, but I got distracted watching vid clips of the season 9 end!
abigaile So do I!!! :0)
claysmvl Thanks for the support. I'm really enjoying writing this story!
capriceann Hiya! Thanks for the support. So glad you're enjoying the story. Sturgis gets to find out soon! Stay tuned!
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BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL PENTHOUSE FLOOR HARM AND MAC'S SUITE FRIDAY, EARLY MORNING
Harm woke up to the sound of a distant prayer call. Taking a look at his surroundings in the half light, he grinned at the trail of clothing from the lounge to the bedroom. Well, they had made it to bed, eventually, he noted. Turning his head slightly he was greeted with the sight of Mac asleep, her head sharing his pillow, her arm over his chest, her leg over his leg, with her heel tucked into the crook of his bent knee. And she was naked. As he raked his gaze down her body he noticed the faint rounding of her abdomen, and he paused his gaze, resting on the one spot, not daring to touch in case he woke her, but wanting so much to lay his palm across the very spot. He knew it was too early to feel the baby move, but he had read up on a couple of books and he had a rough idea of when that time would be, and he was impatiently waiting for the moment that his Sarah would jump in surprise at the first 'kick' and he would feel the movement for himself as she held his hand against her.
"What're you thinking there, flyboy?"
Harm raised his eyes to Mac, and found her sleepy gaze as she smiled at him. As she was awake now, he had no reason not to lay his hand on her abdomen, and so he did.
"I was just waiting for the moment when our child kicks for the first time," he answered softly. Mac gave a husky giggle.
"You've got quite a wait there, Daddy. It's not for a few more weeks yet."
"I know. I'm enjoying watching you grow, Sarah."
"So you'll enjoy watching while I waddle like a duck and look like a beached whale?" Mac added, not entirely sure what his reaction to that statement would be.
Harm caught the insecurity and brought his free hand up to cup her cheek, rubbing his thumb gently across her cheekbone.
"I love you, and I love the way your body is changing while you're carrying our child, and I happen to think you will look very sexy at any stage in your pregnancy," Harm declared, and Mac moved her face, dropping a kiss into the palm of his hand.
"Sometime, somewhere in our crazy mixed-up world, Harm, we did something right..." Mac murmured, and he nodded in response. Taking her face in both hands he brought his mouth down to hers and began kissing her gently, slowly, dropping feather light touches on her eyelids, down her nose to the very tip, her cheeks, and then her mouth. Mac gave herself up to him and let him take the lead, wondering where his mouth and hands, with those oh- so-tactile fingers, would move next. As she felt him trace a path all along her body she felt the tension slowly begin to build, and when she had to release her hands from his hair as he moved lower, she grasped the bed sheet instead, bunching it in her fingers as she strained against his touch. Then she began to beg.
"Harm..."
"Mmn?"
"Please, Harm..."
"What do want, Sarah?"
"I don't...I can't think..."
"Then don't. Just let go, Sarah."
"HARM!" It was a scream, and then a giggle, then a deep purr as Mac's world righted itself and the flashing lights began to fade a little. "Oh, that was sneaky, squid," she murmured, as he came back up the bed and lay facing her, the cheekiest grin on his face. "When I get my breath back, you'd better be ready..." she added, smiling at him.
"Payback?" Harm questioned, raising an eyebrow, and Mac nodded.
"Of the nicest kind," she replied, and began her own assault on his body.
MATTIE'S SUITE SAME TIME
The call to prayer that had woken Harm also woke Mattie, and she lay in her bed, fighting the feeling of waking. It was still too early, she knew that, and if she got out of bed now she would be wide awake, and then later in the day she would be tired, so instead of getting out of the bed she snuggled back down under the covers, and let her mind wander over the last few days, being with Harm and Mac, spending the time on the Sea Hawk, knowing that she was safe and happy, and sleepy...
Just before she crossed the edge of sleep again one face came to mind. Blaise. The university student. Boy, was he nice! Even Harm had been impressed with his manners and his behaviour, Mattie remembered. So, he was older than she was, at least in years, but there was no reason why they couldn't start out as friends. Look at Mac and Harm! That was Mattie's last thought before sleep claimed her again. But it would be the first thought that came to mind when she woke up again...
HARM AND MAC'S SUITE
Mac came awake to the sensation of being alone in the bed. Her hand reached out to touch the space that Harm had filled beside her, and as she raised her head from the pillow in search of him she saw him outlined against the picture window in the small lounge area. Sitting up, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and got to her feet. Without using anything to cover her nakedness she went to stand behind Harm, wrapping her arms around his waist, and smiling when he pressed her arms against his body, bringing her closer.
"You okay?" Mac asked, softly, pressing her lips to the dip of spine, smiling when she felt him shiver slightly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking..."
"Uh, oh," murmured Mac, "That's a dangerous pastime when it comes to the two of us."
Harm laughed softly, and turned in Mac's embrace, lifting his hands to cup her face.
"Not any more. I was just thinking how right this all feels. I have you, and you have me. We have Mattie, and we have our unborn child. Whatever else goes on in our lives, we have that grounding now."
"It feels good, Harm."
"Mmn, yes it does." They stood for a few moments, in silence, just holding each other. Mac felt the change in Harm from peaceful to playful before he actually moved against her.
"Problem, sailor?"
"Not in the least. I was just thinking that one of us is a little overdressed here." As he lifted his head and looked down at Mac his eyes took in her body in all its naked glory, and his body in the complimentary toweling robe.
"We really should be getting up now," Mac murmured. "Mattie will be coming over soon." Mac, at least, remembered telling the teenager that the three of them would go for a swim before the brunch that Varese had organized.
"Mattie...I forgot, the swimming." Harm tried to look disappointed, and failed miserably. "Well, I'm definitely 'up', marine, so how about a shower first? You know, it's hygienic to take a shower before you go in the pool."
"Ha!" Mac laughed huskily, adding softly "hygiene is the last thing on your mind, sailor."
"You know me so well," Harm moaned, more from the fact that Mac had opened the ties on his robe and her hands were on the move than wondering if he had become so predictable. "Shower, now," he whispered as the robe slid off his shoulders and he picked Mac up, her arms around his neck, her legs going round his waist and her ankles crossing behind him, holding her securely to him as he walked into the en-suite bathroom, closing the door. Mac raised her head briefly from her foray around his neck and ear.
"Why are you shutting the door, Harm? We've just been stood totally naked in front of a picture window for all of Bahrain to see us!"
"I read the notice on the bathroom wall earlier," Harm explained. "The steam could set off the alarm. The last thing we need is the rescue service in here with us!"
Mac laughed, rubbing her nose against his, before lifting her face up and looking at Harm. It was a deep, thoughtful look, and Harm felt it clear through to his soul.
"I love you, Harm."
"I love you too, Sarah."
It was certainly steamy in the bathroom after that, and then they turned on the shower!
BAHRAIN SHERATON HOTEL SWIMMING POOL FRIDAY MORNING
Harm and Mattie had ganged up, unfairly, on Mac and were splashing her mercilessly, until she turned the tables and dived under the water, grabbing Harm's legs and pulling them out from under him. Mattie then switched allegiance and helped Mac torment Harm.
"Okay, okay..." Harm managed to splutter, before going under for a third time. It was a game, just a game. He knew that in his mind, but suddenly the water had become something more menacing. The cold from the chillers that kept the pool water at a welcoming temperature in the heat of the day were affecting Harm as they reminded him of the cold waters of the Atlantic, and he knew that if he just opened his eyes he would see the blue skies overhead and see both Mac and Mattie smiling and laughing at him. But he couldn't open his eyes. He could only remember the cold, and the terror.
Mac suddenly sensed something other than fun, and she dived under the water, seeing Harm with his eyes closed, and his face fixed in a look of sheer terror. Moving quickly behind him she caught him in a rescue hold and swam for the surface, pulling them both out of the water with the force of her strokes. As the pair of them broke the surface, Mattie squealed and jumped back, aware that the game had ended and there was something more serious going on, but not sure what.
Mac had surfaced near the shallow end of the pool, so it was easy to bring Harm to his feet and get her own footing even as her hands cupped his face.
"Harm! It's okay, you're on the surface. You're safe." Mac hoped that her words were getting through to Harm, and as color returned to his paled face she breathed a sigh of relief herself. It took a few seconds for him to open his eyes, and in that brief time Mac saw Mattie from the corner of her eye.
"What happened, Mac?" Mattie's voice was just above a whisper.
"I'm not sure, Mattie. Can you do me a favor and grab a towel? Harm?" Mac hadn't lost eye contact with Harm since his eyes opened, and she smiled at him, trying to reassure both him and herself that he would be all right. "What happened, sailor?"
"Not sure...I...I felt cold..." Harm managed, fixing his gaze on Mac and then shivering in reaction to what had happened to him. Mac helped him to the steps and out onto the edge of the pool. Mattie put the towel around his shoulders and although he didn't look at her, he held her hand in his.
"I...I'm sorry, Harm..." Mattie apologized, but at that remark Harm looked up at both Mac and Mattie, shaking his head.
"No, it wasn't that, Mattie. I...I haven't actually been in water such as a pool, or the sea, since the night...since I went down..." Harm tried to explain to Mattie, but Mac knew what he was saying, and she put it into words.
"You thought you were drowning again."
Harm nodded. "The pool water is cold from the chillers they use here, and combined with going under repeatedly, I guess my subconscious took over for a while."
"I guess we'll call it a day, then, and go back upstairs to get ready for brunch," Mac suggested, making a move to get to her feet, but Harm halted her progress, shaking his head again.
"I need to do a few laps of the pool, and go back under, or this is going to keep getting at me, whether I want it to or not."
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To be continued
A/N :
1. Had a glitch with the previewing and some other figures came up instead of the '' and '' signs, so if it happens when I post this chapter, remember, I did try to correct it first!