A/N: For those of you who have questioned why Harm and Mac haven't moved
further into a relationship yet, I'm playing this out as I think the
characters would react. Rest assured that I *am* a die-hard H/M shipper,
but that's all I'm going to say. ;-)
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Saturday; 0047 Zulu; North of Union Station
While Harm stood at the kitchen counter pouring coffee for himself and Mac, Mattie hurriedly grabbed the salt and a stick of butter from the fridge. She didn't know what exactly was going on between her guardian and his friend, but had a suspicious feeling that there was more to it than just the court martial they were defending together. *Maybe it's better that I don't know,* she thought wryly.
"What movies did you guys get?"
"Only one, the newest BBC version of 'Pride And Prejudice'. It's over five hours long, which is why we didn't rent anything else. We're reading the book in school and Jen thought watching the movie would be a good way for me to better understand the characters," Mattie explained. "Plus, the guy who plays Mr. Darcy is gorgeous." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Added bonus, definitely," agreed Mac. Harm simply rolled his eyes, watching as Mattie headed out the door.
"The movie's only about halfway over, so if you want to come join us when you get done working, you're more than welcome. See you later!" The door closed with a soft click.
Carrying the coffee mugs back over to the living room, Harm handed one to Mac and reclaimed his chair. She stretched her legs out in front of her before taking the first sip. While Mattie's interruption had at first seemed very badly timed, Mac realized that the few minutes of distraction had done wonders to relieve her discomfort. "So you think we should try this the natural way first, huh?" she asked nonchalantly, eyeing Harm over the rim of her mug.
"Yeah, I do." Mac watched him intently but didn't say anything, so he continued. "The other methods are all so. . . sterile, and impersonal. *If* we encounter problems doing this the old-fashioned way then I'm all for bringing science into the mix, but only as a last resort. This kid is going to be half of you and half of me, and I want its creation to mean something."
"And you wouldn't feel the connection if your part was limited to a doctor's office visit."
"Mac, what you're suggesting is me going into a bathroom and. . ." he trailed off with a hoarse chuckle. "No offense, but I'm not sixteen anymore. I just want the full experience, same as you."
Several seconds ticked by as Mac pondered Harm's words. After all, *she* would be the one carrying the baby, which she imagined would be the most awe-inspiring bond she would ever experience. What right did she have to deny Harm the same connection?
"All right," she finally said, "I'll agree to try this the traditional way, but with one stipulation." Surprised but simultaneously relieved, Harm nodded for her to go on. "It has to happen on neutral territory."
"What do you mean?"
"The baby's conception has to take place on neutral territory. Not here," she gestured around them, "and not at my apartment." Despite the closeness she and Harm had shared over the years, she found herself stumbling over the words. "They're so familiar to both of us; it would be too weird seeing you every day at work if I knew that we had been together." She hoped he understood what she was trying to say.
"An independent location would help us to keep this separate from our professional relationship," he supplied.
"Exactly."
"I know just the place."
"Where?"
"Mattie said we could use her house." Of all the answers Mac had anticipated, that was not one of them. Her temper flared.
"You told Mattie?" she said incredulously, her voice rising. "Mattie knows about all this? A fifteen year-old girl whose roommate is our CO's yeoman-- "
"Whoa, hold up, Marine," Harm said quickly, instantly realizing his mistake. "I did NOT tell Mattie anything about you, me, or our little agreement." Mac didn't look like she believed him but held her tongue so he could explain. "A while back she offered to let me crash at the house if I ever needed to stay overnight after working on 'Sarah'. I thought maybe we could make a weekend of it, just you and me. Go flying, among other things."
Mac stared at him, her anger vanishing as rapidly as it had come. Memories of their previous flights together, coupled with the bizarre quality of the entire conversation, brought an errant laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside. "And what makes you think I'd go flying with you again? Your track record isn't that great, hotshot." She smirked at him as she finished off her coffee.
"Okay, okay, I promise to be extra careful when I do the pre-flight check," he conceded guiltily, "and I'll do my best to protect you if we encounter any psychotic poachers or missile-toting eighteen-wheelers." He shot her a million-dollar grin. "Can't guarantee we won't punch out, though."
"Maybe you should just let me control the stick -- you always seem to get us into trouble," she teased.
"If you want, she's all yours."
Mac laughed softly and stood. "It's a deal. Here, let me get that," she said, extending her free hand to Harm and motioning to his now-empty coffee cup, which he obediently handed over. She carried the mugs over to the kitchen and placed them in the sink. "So, do you have a particular weekend in mind for this little expedition of ours?"
"What are your plans for Friday?" He watched as Mac's eyes went momentarily round, but when she spoke her voice was calm and controlled.
"Actually, I'm free all next weekend."
"Then why don't we count on heading up Friday, after work. I've been wanting to take 'Sarah' for a spin."
"Okay." Mac nodded. The uncomfortable silence returned as they stared wordlessly at one another. "Hey, what do you say to joining Mattie and Jen, and watching the rest of the movie?"
"Isn't it a 'chick flick'?" he asked warily. Mac smiled at him brightly.
"Yeah, but it's based on one of the most widely-read pieces of English literature ever written. Think of it as participating in Mattie's educational experience."
Caving, Harm arose with a heavy sigh. "Okay, I'll go. But," he added, "the moment you start drooling over Mr. Darcy, I'm heading home." Mac laughed aloud.
"Then c'mon, Flyboy, let's go." She waited patiently for Harm to open the door, then moved past him into the hall and headed towards the other apartment. The lights turned off and the loft was plunged into darkness as the door latched shut behind them.
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To be continued. . .
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Saturday; 0047 Zulu; North of Union Station
While Harm stood at the kitchen counter pouring coffee for himself and Mac, Mattie hurriedly grabbed the salt and a stick of butter from the fridge. She didn't know what exactly was going on between her guardian and his friend, but had a suspicious feeling that there was more to it than just the court martial they were defending together. *Maybe it's better that I don't know,* she thought wryly.
"What movies did you guys get?"
"Only one, the newest BBC version of 'Pride And Prejudice'. It's over five hours long, which is why we didn't rent anything else. We're reading the book in school and Jen thought watching the movie would be a good way for me to better understand the characters," Mattie explained. "Plus, the guy who plays Mr. Darcy is gorgeous." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Added bonus, definitely," agreed Mac. Harm simply rolled his eyes, watching as Mattie headed out the door.
"The movie's only about halfway over, so if you want to come join us when you get done working, you're more than welcome. See you later!" The door closed with a soft click.
Carrying the coffee mugs back over to the living room, Harm handed one to Mac and reclaimed his chair. She stretched her legs out in front of her before taking the first sip. While Mattie's interruption had at first seemed very badly timed, Mac realized that the few minutes of distraction had done wonders to relieve her discomfort. "So you think we should try this the natural way first, huh?" she asked nonchalantly, eyeing Harm over the rim of her mug.
"Yeah, I do." Mac watched him intently but didn't say anything, so he continued. "The other methods are all so. . . sterile, and impersonal. *If* we encounter problems doing this the old-fashioned way then I'm all for bringing science into the mix, but only as a last resort. This kid is going to be half of you and half of me, and I want its creation to mean something."
"And you wouldn't feel the connection if your part was limited to a doctor's office visit."
"Mac, what you're suggesting is me going into a bathroom and. . ." he trailed off with a hoarse chuckle. "No offense, but I'm not sixteen anymore. I just want the full experience, same as you."
Several seconds ticked by as Mac pondered Harm's words. After all, *she* would be the one carrying the baby, which she imagined would be the most awe-inspiring bond she would ever experience. What right did she have to deny Harm the same connection?
"All right," she finally said, "I'll agree to try this the traditional way, but with one stipulation." Surprised but simultaneously relieved, Harm nodded for her to go on. "It has to happen on neutral territory."
"What do you mean?"
"The baby's conception has to take place on neutral territory. Not here," she gestured around them, "and not at my apartment." Despite the closeness she and Harm had shared over the years, she found herself stumbling over the words. "They're so familiar to both of us; it would be too weird seeing you every day at work if I knew that we had been together." She hoped he understood what she was trying to say.
"An independent location would help us to keep this separate from our professional relationship," he supplied.
"Exactly."
"I know just the place."
"Where?"
"Mattie said we could use her house." Of all the answers Mac had anticipated, that was not one of them. Her temper flared.
"You told Mattie?" she said incredulously, her voice rising. "Mattie knows about all this? A fifteen year-old girl whose roommate is our CO's yeoman-- "
"Whoa, hold up, Marine," Harm said quickly, instantly realizing his mistake. "I did NOT tell Mattie anything about you, me, or our little agreement." Mac didn't look like she believed him but held her tongue so he could explain. "A while back she offered to let me crash at the house if I ever needed to stay overnight after working on 'Sarah'. I thought maybe we could make a weekend of it, just you and me. Go flying, among other things."
Mac stared at him, her anger vanishing as rapidly as it had come. Memories of their previous flights together, coupled with the bizarre quality of the entire conversation, brought an errant laugh bubbling up from somewhere inside. "And what makes you think I'd go flying with you again? Your track record isn't that great, hotshot." She smirked at him as she finished off her coffee.
"Okay, okay, I promise to be extra careful when I do the pre-flight check," he conceded guiltily, "and I'll do my best to protect you if we encounter any psychotic poachers or missile-toting eighteen-wheelers." He shot her a million-dollar grin. "Can't guarantee we won't punch out, though."
"Maybe you should just let me control the stick -- you always seem to get us into trouble," she teased.
"If you want, she's all yours."
Mac laughed softly and stood. "It's a deal. Here, let me get that," she said, extending her free hand to Harm and motioning to his now-empty coffee cup, which he obediently handed over. She carried the mugs over to the kitchen and placed them in the sink. "So, do you have a particular weekend in mind for this little expedition of ours?"
"What are your plans for Friday?" He watched as Mac's eyes went momentarily round, but when she spoke her voice was calm and controlled.
"Actually, I'm free all next weekend."
"Then why don't we count on heading up Friday, after work. I've been wanting to take 'Sarah' for a spin."
"Okay." Mac nodded. The uncomfortable silence returned as they stared wordlessly at one another. "Hey, what do you say to joining Mattie and Jen, and watching the rest of the movie?"
"Isn't it a 'chick flick'?" he asked warily. Mac smiled at him brightly.
"Yeah, but it's based on one of the most widely-read pieces of English literature ever written. Think of it as participating in Mattie's educational experience."
Caving, Harm arose with a heavy sigh. "Okay, I'll go. But," he added, "the moment you start drooling over Mr. Darcy, I'm heading home." Mac laughed aloud.
"Then c'mon, Flyboy, let's go." She waited patiently for Harm to open the door, then moved past him into the hall and headed towards the other apartment. The lights turned off and the loft was plunged into darkness as the door latched shut behind them.
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To be continued. . .
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