A/N: Oops, I didn't mean for such a long delay between postings, but the
Arctic weather here in the Great Lakes has caused me to come down with a
terrible cold. Hope this was worth the wait!
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Saturday; 0401 Zulu; Mattie and Jennifer's Apartment; North of Union Station
A little over a week had passed since Harm and Mac's last lunchtime venture. Fearing discovery by Harriet the previous Friday, they had eased up a bit from pursuing Plan B upon returning to work Monday morning. Their respective caseloads had helped to keep the two attorneys separated during the days, and fortunately neither had detected suspicion on Harriet's part throughout the rest of the week. Now they sat next to each other on the futon as light from the black-and-white images on the television flickered throughout the darkened living room. Jennifer claimed the papasan chair and Mattie sat cross-legged on the floor. The four had spent the evening watching old Cary Grant movies, beginning with "My Favorite Wife", starring Grant and Irene Dunne, and followed by the perennial classic "An Affair to Remember" with Deborah Kerr. Now all sat charmed by "The Philadelphia Story", a comedy that also featured Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. Mac hadn't seen the film in years although she had at one time considered it a personal favorite. Sitting with his arm draped loosely around Mac's shoulders, Harm felt rather than heard Mac's quiet sniffle at the end of the movie. He squeezed her arm reassuringly.
As the credits began to roll, Mac rose and flipped on the lights before heading off to use the bathroom. Harm saw her surreptitiously wiping a stray tear off her cheek as she walked away. Knowing that she would be embarrassed if Jennifer or Mattie had noticed as well, he quickly moved to distract them.
"So what did you guys think?"
"Cool flicks. I can see why Cary Grant was such a heartthrob," grinned Jennifer as she stood and stretched. Grabbing the discarded pizza boxes, popcorn bowls, and glasses, Harm carried everything into the kitchen while the two young women tackled the living room.
"I liked them too," Mattie agreed, "but they would have been better if we hadn't had to keep pausing for potty breaks." Her gaze drifted over towards the hallway where Mac had disappeared moments before. "Geez, I had more soda than she did." Leaning over, she picked up the pillow she'd been sitting on and tossed it back on the couch. Harm chuckled.
A few minutes later Mac returned, perfectly composed. "Anything I can do to help?" she asked as she wandered into the kitchen, reaching for the nearest two-liter bottle.
"No, I think we've got it pretty much under control. You know, you really should cut back on the liquids, Marine," Harm ribbed quietly as he rinsed out a glass and set it in the sink. "Between the three movies tonight you've been to the bathroom about five times."
"Very funny, Squid." Realizing he had a point, though, she shifted directions and snatched a handful of popcorn. "Since when have you paid attention to how many times I use the ladies' room?" she asked as she popped the snack into her mouth, eyebrow cocked and a small smile playing on her lips. To her amusement, Harm actually blushed.
"I've always paid attention where you're concerned," he mumbled to himself. At the softening of Mac's expression, Harm realized that he'd said the words out loud. He stepped towards her.
"Harm. . ." Raising her hand between them, Mac briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Now's not the time," she whispered, gesturing her head towards where Mattie and Jennifer were busy folding a blanket only a few feet away. Then, in a louder voice, "I should head home. Walk me out to my car?"
"Sure."
A few moments later Mac had exchanged farewells with the two young women. Holding the door for her as they left the apartment, Harm followed her silently towards the elevator.
"So, which movie did you like the best?" Mac's voice echoed down the hallway.
"I hadn't seen the last one before," Harm began thoughtfully, "but I think I liked it better than the other two. That scene with Jimmy Stewart singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. . ." They both chuckled.
"Yeah, and I love Tracy's reaction when she realizes that she and Mike aren't alone. 'Hello, Dex. Hulloo, George,'" Mac imitated with a giggle as Harm held back the elevator safety gate for her. "Both Hepburn and Stewart did a fantastic job playing drunk."
"Didn't he win an Oscar for his performance?"
"Best Actor, 1940," she nodded. "And it was well deserved."
"Do you have a favorite part?"
"Maybe not *one* favorite," she admitted, "but I love Tracy's reaction at the end when she realizes that Dexter is proposing to her again. The way she grasps his hand for support when she's telling the guests to hang tight is simply priceless." Nodding in understanding, Harm remembered Mac's unexpected reaction to the scene. They were silent for a few moments. Exiting the elevator on the ground floor, they walked quietly outside towards where Mac's Corvette was parked.
"You know, Mac," Harm began softly. "It occurs to me that the movie's plot is sort of similar to our own lives."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, Tracy was supposed to marry George, who was obviously beneath her. Sort of like you were going to marry Brumby. . . wait, let me rephrase that. George was plainly not the right guy for her, just like Mic turned out not to be the right man for you." He winced when he saw her scowl. *Way to go, Rabb,* he thought to himself. *Open mouth, insert foot.*
"Oh, really?" Mac questioned, folding her arms across her chest. "George broke up with Tracy because he mistakenly thought she'd had an affair with Mike. For the record, Mic *didn't* break up with me because he thought I slept with someone else."
"Then why did he call you at my place after he cancelled the wedding?"
She stared at him incredulously. "Mic did *not* think you and I were sleeping together."
"So he just ran back to Australia because you and I were such good friends?"
"No, Mic realized that I didn't love him the way that--" *The way that I love you.* She caught herself before saying the words out loud. Blurting out her feelings to Sturgis was one thing, and she was grateful he could keep a secret. Actually admitting them to the object of her affection, however, was another matter entirely. "Look, Harm, I'm not going to go into this with you right now." Shaking her head, she turned away and strode towards her car.
"The way that *what*, Mac?"
"Goodnight, Harm," she growled as she yanked open the driver side door and slid into the car.
Knowing that any attempt to talk to her before she had cooled down would be pointless, Harm simply watched as she started the engine and drove away. Her words rang through his thoughts: 'Mic realized that I didn't love him the way that. . .' What had she been about to say? His mind raced with possibilities as he returned to the building, and a feeling of sudden optimism washed over him. After all, tomorrow was another day.
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To be continued. . .
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A/N #2: If you've been reading any of the reviews for this story, you may have seen the comments Cathy F. made regarding fertility planning after I posted Chapter 11. I sent her an email that same day, but thought I'd include the explanation here as well for everyone else. Here's what I wrote:
***First of all, thanks for the review! Constructive feedback is ALWAYS appreciated. :) As I don't have children myself, I relied heavily on information from the internet as well as comments from my beta-reader when writing the chapters of Time's Up that dealt specifically with conception. One website (I'm at work right now and can't recall the exact URL) said ovulation could occur anytime between days 12 and 16, depending on the woman. I deliberately tried to stay vague with regards to timing to avoid bogging the story down with facts on something which I have not personally experienced, but at the same time I wanted give enough information so that the story stayed somewhat realistic. The purpose of the lunchtime encounters was to 1) demonstrate that Harm and Mac are committed to this endeavor, and 2) to tie into Mac's earlier bathtub comment about "doing it like bunnies". Also, a few years back a former colleague of mine was undergoing fertility treatments to help conceive, and every month, for several days in a row, she and her husband would meet at home during lunch to... Well, let's just say that I used that as a basis for Harm and Mac's behavior as well. Does this answer your questions? Again, I appreciate your taking the time to submit a review. Thanks, too, for the advice about how Mac should be avoiding hot baths/showers -- I didn't read anything about that on the internet but certainly won't make that mistake again now that you've brought it to my attention!***
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A/N #3: Also, I have reposted Chapter 3 to correct the cadet/midshipman error. Thanks, Bob, for pointing it out!
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Saturday; 0401 Zulu; Mattie and Jennifer's Apartment; North of Union Station
A little over a week had passed since Harm and Mac's last lunchtime venture. Fearing discovery by Harriet the previous Friday, they had eased up a bit from pursuing Plan B upon returning to work Monday morning. Their respective caseloads had helped to keep the two attorneys separated during the days, and fortunately neither had detected suspicion on Harriet's part throughout the rest of the week. Now they sat next to each other on the futon as light from the black-and-white images on the television flickered throughout the darkened living room. Jennifer claimed the papasan chair and Mattie sat cross-legged on the floor. The four had spent the evening watching old Cary Grant movies, beginning with "My Favorite Wife", starring Grant and Irene Dunne, and followed by the perennial classic "An Affair to Remember" with Deborah Kerr. Now all sat charmed by "The Philadelphia Story", a comedy that also featured Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart. Mac hadn't seen the film in years although she had at one time considered it a personal favorite. Sitting with his arm draped loosely around Mac's shoulders, Harm felt rather than heard Mac's quiet sniffle at the end of the movie. He squeezed her arm reassuringly.
As the credits began to roll, Mac rose and flipped on the lights before heading off to use the bathroom. Harm saw her surreptitiously wiping a stray tear off her cheek as she walked away. Knowing that she would be embarrassed if Jennifer or Mattie had noticed as well, he quickly moved to distract them.
"So what did you guys think?"
"Cool flicks. I can see why Cary Grant was such a heartthrob," grinned Jennifer as she stood and stretched. Grabbing the discarded pizza boxes, popcorn bowls, and glasses, Harm carried everything into the kitchen while the two young women tackled the living room.
"I liked them too," Mattie agreed, "but they would have been better if we hadn't had to keep pausing for potty breaks." Her gaze drifted over towards the hallway where Mac had disappeared moments before. "Geez, I had more soda than she did." Leaning over, she picked up the pillow she'd been sitting on and tossed it back on the couch. Harm chuckled.
A few minutes later Mac returned, perfectly composed. "Anything I can do to help?" she asked as she wandered into the kitchen, reaching for the nearest two-liter bottle.
"No, I think we've got it pretty much under control. You know, you really should cut back on the liquids, Marine," Harm ribbed quietly as he rinsed out a glass and set it in the sink. "Between the three movies tonight you've been to the bathroom about five times."
"Very funny, Squid." Realizing he had a point, though, she shifted directions and snatched a handful of popcorn. "Since when have you paid attention to how many times I use the ladies' room?" she asked as she popped the snack into her mouth, eyebrow cocked and a small smile playing on her lips. To her amusement, Harm actually blushed.
"I've always paid attention where you're concerned," he mumbled to himself. At the softening of Mac's expression, Harm realized that he'd said the words out loud. He stepped towards her.
"Harm. . ." Raising her hand between them, Mac briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Now's not the time," she whispered, gesturing her head towards where Mattie and Jennifer were busy folding a blanket only a few feet away. Then, in a louder voice, "I should head home. Walk me out to my car?"
"Sure."
A few moments later Mac had exchanged farewells with the two young women. Holding the door for her as they left the apartment, Harm followed her silently towards the elevator.
"So, which movie did you like the best?" Mac's voice echoed down the hallway.
"I hadn't seen the last one before," Harm began thoughtfully, "but I think I liked it better than the other two. That scene with Jimmy Stewart singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. . ." They both chuckled.
"Yeah, and I love Tracy's reaction when she realizes that she and Mike aren't alone. 'Hello, Dex. Hulloo, George,'" Mac imitated with a giggle as Harm held back the elevator safety gate for her. "Both Hepburn and Stewart did a fantastic job playing drunk."
"Didn't he win an Oscar for his performance?"
"Best Actor, 1940," she nodded. "And it was well deserved."
"Do you have a favorite part?"
"Maybe not *one* favorite," she admitted, "but I love Tracy's reaction at the end when she realizes that Dexter is proposing to her again. The way she grasps his hand for support when she's telling the guests to hang tight is simply priceless." Nodding in understanding, Harm remembered Mac's unexpected reaction to the scene. They were silent for a few moments. Exiting the elevator on the ground floor, they walked quietly outside towards where Mac's Corvette was parked.
"You know, Mac," Harm began softly. "It occurs to me that the movie's plot is sort of similar to our own lives."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, Tracy was supposed to marry George, who was obviously beneath her. Sort of like you were going to marry Brumby. . . wait, let me rephrase that. George was plainly not the right guy for her, just like Mic turned out not to be the right man for you." He winced when he saw her scowl. *Way to go, Rabb,* he thought to himself. *Open mouth, insert foot.*
"Oh, really?" Mac questioned, folding her arms across her chest. "George broke up with Tracy because he mistakenly thought she'd had an affair with Mike. For the record, Mic *didn't* break up with me because he thought I slept with someone else."
"Then why did he call you at my place after he cancelled the wedding?"
She stared at him incredulously. "Mic did *not* think you and I were sleeping together."
"So he just ran back to Australia because you and I were such good friends?"
"No, Mic realized that I didn't love him the way that--" *The way that I love you.* She caught herself before saying the words out loud. Blurting out her feelings to Sturgis was one thing, and she was grateful he could keep a secret. Actually admitting them to the object of her affection, however, was another matter entirely. "Look, Harm, I'm not going to go into this with you right now." Shaking her head, she turned away and strode towards her car.
"The way that *what*, Mac?"
"Goodnight, Harm," she growled as she yanked open the driver side door and slid into the car.
Knowing that any attempt to talk to her before she had cooled down would be pointless, Harm simply watched as she started the engine and drove away. Her words rang through his thoughts: 'Mic realized that I didn't love him the way that. . .' What had she been about to say? His mind raced with possibilities as he returned to the building, and a feeling of sudden optimism washed over him. After all, tomorrow was another day.
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To be continued. . .
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A/N #2: If you've been reading any of the reviews for this story, you may have seen the comments Cathy F. made regarding fertility planning after I posted Chapter 11. I sent her an email that same day, but thought I'd include the explanation here as well for everyone else. Here's what I wrote:
***First of all, thanks for the review! Constructive feedback is ALWAYS appreciated. :) As I don't have children myself, I relied heavily on information from the internet as well as comments from my beta-reader when writing the chapters of Time's Up that dealt specifically with conception. One website (I'm at work right now and can't recall the exact URL) said ovulation could occur anytime between days 12 and 16, depending on the woman. I deliberately tried to stay vague with regards to timing to avoid bogging the story down with facts on something which I have not personally experienced, but at the same time I wanted give enough information so that the story stayed somewhat realistic. The purpose of the lunchtime encounters was to 1) demonstrate that Harm and Mac are committed to this endeavor, and 2) to tie into Mac's earlier bathtub comment about "doing it like bunnies". Also, a few years back a former colleague of mine was undergoing fertility treatments to help conceive, and every month, for several days in a row, she and her husband would meet at home during lunch to... Well, let's just say that I used that as a basis for Harm and Mac's behavior as well. Does this answer your questions? Again, I appreciate your taking the time to submit a review. Thanks, too, for the advice about how Mac should be avoiding hot baths/showers -- I didn't read anything about that on the internet but certainly won't make that mistake again now that you've brought it to my attention!***
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A/N #3: Also, I have reposted Chapter 3 to correct the cadet/midshipman error. Thanks, Bob, for pointing it out!