Admiration and Love – 2/11
For disclaimer and all other important comments see part one.
9:32 PM
Mac and Chloe's House
Mac and Chloe sat on the couch watching Sixteen Candles. Mac tried not to fall asleep, but found herself stifling yet another yawn. Chloe looked at Mac and laughed. "What's so funny?"
"You're almost asleep."
"I'm exhausted."
"Then go to bed."
"But I haven't seen you in three days."
"Yeah, but do you really want to be tired during the staff meeting tomorrow? Plus it's almost my bed time." Chloe stood up from the couch.
"Finish your homework?" Mac asked, knowing Chloe probably didn't have any.
"Yeah, Ms. Thompson gave us this really big assignment. We have to do a report on our parent's job," Chloe said as they walked upstairs.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Do you think the admiral would let me video tape you at JAG? Plus let me interview some people about your job and everything?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him."
"Can you ask him for me?" They walked into Chloe's bedroom.
"No. You can ask him tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Chloe got into bed.
"Yeah, I have to be in court. Harriet will pick you up after volunteer tutoring." Mac picked up Chloe's teddy bear off the floor.
Chloe sighed, "Okay."
Mac leaned down, kissed Chloe on the forehead, and gave her the teddy bear, "Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too, honey," Mac said as she turned off Chloe's light. "Goodnight."
Tuesday May 5
JAG
4:05 PM
Harriet picked Chloe up after her tutoring session and on the drive to JAG, Chloe told Harriet about her idea for the project. Harriet thought it was a great idea and offered to help in any way possible. When they reached Headquarters, Chloe went straight into Mac's office and started her math homework.
She worked for about 15 minutes before she encountered a difficult problem. She decided to go to the one person who understood quadratic formulas and variables. "Hey, Tiner. Do you know if the admiral is busy?"
Tiner looked at the young girl who in the past few months had become a regular fixture in the office and smiled. He also noticed the math book in her hands and knew what she needed. "I'll ask." Tiner rang the admiral. "Sir, Chloe Madison would like a moment of your time. Yes, Sir." Tiner hung up the phone. "Go on in."
"Thanks, Tiner." Chloe walked into the admiral's office with a smile on her face. "Hi, Admiral."
"Hello, Chloe. How are you?" AJ noticed the math book and had a good idea of what she needed.
"I'm okay. I'm just stuck on this problem." She moved over to his side of his desk with the math book.
"Let me see that," he put his glasses on and quickly showed her how to solve the problem.
"Now, if only Mr. Winder could explain it to me like you do." Chloe moved around the desk and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Something else?"
"Yes, Sir. I have to do a project for my English class about the person I admire the most. I've decided to do a video presentation about Mom. The thing is: I want to interview people from JAG and record her while she's working." AJ nodded. "But I need your permission to do this."
"I see. How does Mac feel about this?"
"Well, she thinks my assignment is a report on her job. I can't tell her the real assignment. I want it to be a surprise."
AJ took a minute. "What's my role in this?"
"To follow along with the reason I gave her and give me permission to video tape at JAG. Please?" she added, with a super sweet smile for good measure.
AJ took a deep breath, not believing he was going to go along with this plan of hers. "Okay."
"Yes!" Chloe jumped out of the chair, ran to the other side of his desk and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she gushed.
AJ hugged her and smiled. "But you have to promise this will not interfere with any JAG operations."
Chloe released him and snapped to attention. "I promise it won't, Sir."
AJ laughed at her antics as there was a knock at the door and Harm walked in,. "I'm sorry to interrupt Sir, but Tiner has stepped away."
"Come in, Mr. Rabb. Miss Madison and I were just working on her math homework."
"I thought you came to me for help in math," Harm commented as Chloe picked up her math book.
"I go to Tiner for science, Bud for history, the Admiral for math, Harriet for home economics, and you when I can't find someone else," Chloe explained. AJ started to chuckle when Mac joined them in the office.
"I don't like you anymore." Harm gave Chloe a hurt expression.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Chloe." She looked at AJ, who was still smiling, then at Harm. "What did she say?"
"She said that I basically know nothing," Harm said.
Mac looked at Chloe. "Chloe, how many times do I have to tell you?"
"Harm's a squid, he's not too bright." Chloe caused AJ to laugh even harder.
Harm stared at Mac with a shocked expression. "I've never said that."
Chloe smiled again as she left the office. "Well, I've done enough damage."
"Is there something that you two needed?" AJ quickly asked before Harm and Mac could start arguing with each other over Chloe's comments.
"Yes, Sir. It's about the Henderson report," Mac said remembering the reason she and Harm were in the Admiral's office.
"I've read through it. I'm assuming the two of you are disagreeing as usual. Have a seat. Commander, what are your impressions of the facts?"
6:42 PM
Mac's and Chloe's Home
"So the admiral gave me permission to film at JAG. Where do you think would be a good idea to tape?" Chloe asked as she placed the dishes into the dish washer.
"Well, if there isn't a courtroom being used, you could record in there or the conference room. You might even want to get some footage outside since the weather is finally nice again." Mac filled the plastic containers with their leftovers from dinner. "Who are you thinking about interviewing?"
"You, Harm, Bud, Tiner, Admiral, Harriet, and maybe Singer, but I don't trust her," Chloe stated, closing the dishwasher and turning it on.
"Join the club," Mac mumbled under her breath.
"What?" Chloe asked, pretending she didn't hear what Mac said.
"Homework?" Mac asked, changing the subject.
"All done, expect for French. I've got to conjugate verbs. I think that should be illegal in this state." Chloe headed into the living room.
Chloe picked up her book bag and turned to Mac to say something when the doorbell rang. "Got it." Chloe looked through the peephole and smiled as she opened the door. "You're too late for dinner."
"That's okay, I don't have a death wish tonight." Harm walked into the house.
"This from the man who still makes meatless meatloaf," Mac commented as she walked out of the kitchen into the living room.
Harm locked his gaze with Mac's as they smiled at each other. Chloe stood there for a moment. "You two have that look on your faces again."
"What look?" They both said to her, breaking their contact with each other.
"The 'I want to kiss him/her' look."
Harm's jaw fell open in shock and he started to chuckle softly. Mac on the other hand took a deep breath and her cheeks started to flush. "Don't you have homework to do?"
Chloe smiled and started up the stairs. "Yeah, I'll be in my room."
"We'll be in the den," Mac called after her, before she looked over at Harm and gave him an apologetic smile. "I don't know where she gets her ideas from."
"Probably Harriet."
"Do you want anything to drink while we're going over the case?"
"Water's fine."
"I'll meet you in the den." Mac walked into the kitchen.
"Okay." Harm made his way towards the den.
Once he was there, he turned on the lights and took in the cozy atmosphere Mac and Chloe created in the room. The den was a nice size for what they use the room for. On one wall was a couch with end tables on both sides and a coffee table in front. Above the couch hung a picture Chloe found of some dinosaurs. Another wall contained two large bookcases holding Mac's law books with some of Chloe's trinkets. Between the bookcases was one of the two overstuffed chairs.
Throughout the room, and the whole house for that matter, were pictures of Mac, Chloe, Chloe's family, and the "extended family", as Chloe liked to call the JAG staff. Mac's desk sat in the back of the room near the bay window. Harm chuckled to himself as he noticed the other overstuffed chair pulled up next to the desk, right where he left it the last time they worked together on a case.
Harm sat on the couch and was still chuckling when Mac walked into the room. "What's so funny?" She handed him the water. She left the door halfway open, in case the phone rang or Chloe needed her.
"Just noticing the chair is right where I left it."
Mac walked over to her desk and grabbed her briefcase. "It's still there because whenever I move it back to where it belongs, someone moves it back there."
Harm smiled. "When we're done tonight, I'll move it back."
"Thank you." Mac opened the case file as she sat down at the end of the couch. "So where do you want to start?"
9:15 PM
Mac and Harm had been working on the case for a little over and hour, and were finally starting to feel like they were getting somewhere. Mac sat on the floor, using the coffee table to write her notes. She reached for her pen, which had fallen on the floor, and her shoulder decided to pull a muscle the wrong way. "Oww!"
"What?!" Harm sat up straight on the couch and looked down at Mac.
"Nothing, just decided to pull my shoulder wrong." She rubbed the muscle with a wince.
Harm smiled to himself, stood up and pushed the coffee table away from Mac. "Move forward." Mac gave him a funny look. "If you move forward I can get behind you and massage your shoulder."
"You don't have to."
"If I don't, you'll complain all day tomorrow. Now move."
"Yes, Sir," Mac joked as she moved forward. Harm sat down behind her and put his legs on both sides of Mac. Mac let out a small laugh as Harm's long legs slid next to her and his feet were even with hers.
"Why are you laughing?" He asked before he started the massage.
"Your feet have to be at least two times as large as mine."
"Hey, you know what they say about men with large feet." Mac slowly turned around to face him. He smiled and continued, "They wear large shoes. Now turn around and relax."
Mac followed his directions as Harm started to gently massage her shoulder. She softly moaned in delight as Harm found the tense spots in her back. "Right there," Mac instructed when Harm located the painful injury.
"Better?" He whispered near her ear as his hands moved below the spot.
"A little." Mac shivered from the feeling of his breath on her sensitive skin.
Harm smiled and continued to massage her back and shoulder. He enjoyed the way Mac felt in his hands and knew she enjoyed his massages. A few minutes elapsed and Harm decided to try something different. He removed his hands from her back, to which she responded by making a whimpering sound. "Give me a second," he said as he moved backwards slightly. Then he started to massage her again. "Better?"
"If you ever quit JAG, your hands will get you get you a job as a masseuse."
Harm decided to give into the little voice in his head which told him to try something with Mac. He decreased the amount of pressure on her back, leaned forward, and softly kissed the back of her neck. He worked his way to the side of her neck just below her jaw bone. "But then I couldn't see you everyday."
Mac turned her head towards Harm and gazed into his pleasant eyes. She didn't say anything for about ten seconds. Harm was waiting for her to do something, anything, including slapping him. But she softly responded, "Would that be a bad thing?"
"A very bad thing," Harm said, not aware he was helping Mac turn around in his arms.
"We can't have that, can we?" Mac wrapped her arms around Harm's neck.
Harm smiled softly as he felt the gentle pressure of Mac's hands bringing his head towards her. "No, we can't."
Then their lips met. They weren't sure how it happened. But they soon found themselves wrapped in each other and content with the soft feeling of each other.
They had been kissing for awhile when Chloe appeared in the doorway, video taping them. She came down with the video camera to ask if she could video tape them working together, but instead she found Harm giving Mac a massage and decided to tape this instead. Chloe stood there with a smile as she watched and wondered why they were kissing.
Mac and Harm's kisses were soft but passionate. Both exploring each other, but not trying to do anything that might scare the other. Mac kept her hands behind Harm's head and every now and then she would run her fingers through his hair. Without knowing it she had moved her legs to one side of Harm so he was fully supporting her in his arms.
Harm was holding her and enjoying the feel of her lips on his and her body in his arms. He ever so gently took one hand and rested it on her hip and lower back. Every so often he would move the hand towards the center of her back and press her chest closer to his.
Chloe smiled as she watched Harm and Mac pull away from each other slightly to take a breath before they continued kissing.
Suddenly the phone rang, causing Chloe to jump. But she kept her focus on Harm and Mac who were totally taken by surprise. The ringing of the phone caused both Harm and Mac to jump and let go of each other. The lack of support caused Mac to fall backwards over Harm's legs and bounce her head off the pillow that was on the floor next to her. Chloe quickly and silently ran from the doorway and into the living room. Once there she yelled, "Got it."
"Okay!" Mac called to her from the floor.
"You alright?" Harm asked as he looked at Mac laying on the floor and on his legs.
Mac gazed up at him and smiled as she started to laugh. "Fine. I've just got a Navy knee in my back."
Harm chuckled and gave her a hand to help her sit up. "Hey, I'm the one with a Marine on me."
They both started to laugh. Ever so slowly, they stopped and took notice of what they had just done. Harm gave her a slight wanting look to which Mac responded. "I thought we were going to stop doing that."
"I would say I'm sorry, if I meant it," Harm honestly told her as he moved to kiss her again.
Mac placed a hand on his chest. "Harm, Chloe's in the living room."
Harm moved a little away from her. "Right."
"Plus, we decided to wait until both of us are ready."
"I am ready to be with you," Harm told her with complete sincerity.
Mac took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "But I'm not." They both fell silent for a few seconds, "Well, we better get back to work."
"Work." Harm watched as Mac sat up from the floor, picked up the file, and moved to her desk. He sighed, sat back on the couch, and picked up a folder.
10:03 PM
Chloe walked into the den in her pj's and saw Harm sitting in the overstuffed chair next to Mac's desk. Mac was sitting in the chair behind the desk, working on the computer. "I'm going to bed," Chloe told them.
Harm looked up and smiled at her, "Sweet dreams."
"Thanks Harm," Chloe looked at Mac.
"Let me save this file and I'll be right up," Mac said as she stared at the computer screen.
"Okay." Chloe walked out of the room.
Harm looked at Mac as she quickly saved the file. "You tuck her in?"
"Every night I'm home. I even call when I'm on assignment. I'll only be about five minutes. I think we can spare the break."
"Yeah," Harm said as Mac stood up and walked out of the room.
Chloe's Room
Chloe was getting into bed when Mac walked in. "Who was that on the phone earlier?"
"Hannah. She wanted to know if we had homework in science."
"Did you?" Mac motherly asked, and sat down on the side of the bed as Chloe continued getting settled.
"Yes, and I already finished it. It was easy: we had to draw a diagram of a plant cell."
"Okay," Mac said uneasily. She was getting a strange feeling from Chloe. "Chloe, is something wrong?"
"Not really. Why?"
"I'm just getting one of my strange feelings. You're not keeping anything from me, are you?"
"Well… maybe."
"Maybe?"
Chloe took a deep breath; she knew she couldn't lie to Mac. "I kind of saw you and Harm kissing in the den earlier."
Mac bit her lip. "I see."
"I think it's cool if you two want to kiss and all. It just caught me off guard. I went down to ask if I could tape you and Harm working together and I find you making out."
"We were not making out."
"Mom, I've watched TV and you were making out," Chloe stated matter-of-factly.
"Really?"
"Are you two dating?"
"No."
"Do you want to date him?"
"It's complicated. But I promise if we decide to, I'll talk to you first."
"Do you love him?"
"It's complicated, Chloe," Mac said sadly.
"I just want you to be happy," Chloe responded to Mac with a slight smile.
"I don't need a man to be happy."
"What do you need to be happy?" Chloe asked.
"I need to have my daughter get a good night's sleep and for her to know that I love her very much," she said as she tickled Chloe.
Chloe laughed and sat up straight in the bed and wrapped her arms around Mac. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Mac kissed Chloe on the cheek.
Chloe released Mac, put her head down on the pillow, and pulled her blanket up to her neck. "But Mom, this conversation is not over."
Mac chuckled as she stood up and picked up Chloe's teddy bear off of the floor and gave it to her daughter, "It is for now."
Chloe sighed. "Okay."
Mac leaned down and kissed Chloe on the forehead. "Sweet dreams, and no nightmares."
"Goodnight, Mom. I love you," Chloe said as Mac stood up.
"I love you too, baby," Mac turned off Chloe's light and whispered from the doorway. "Goodnight."
Mac walked down the stairs with a smile on her face. Harm stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her, when he noticed her smile. "You always smile that much when you put her to bed?"
"Only when I realize how smart she is."
"What did she say?"
"A lot." Mac noticed he was wearing his jacket and his files were in hand.
"It's getting late and I promised my mom that I would call her tonight."
"Oh, Okay. We can work some on it tomorrow morning before the staff meeting."
"Good idea," Harm said as they walked to the door. Harm opened the door and Mac held it open for him.
"Goodnight, Harm, drive safely."
He smiled at her then impulsively leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Yes, Mom. Goodnight."
After he left Mac closed and locked the door. She walked back into the den to clean up her papers. As soon as she walked in, she laughed when she saw the overstuffed chair still next to her desk. "Guess that means that he'll be back."
End Part 2/11
Sorry, had to put another dedication. This part is for anyone in Richmond, VA who's flooded. Hope you, your family, and your stuff are okay. On the upside from yesterday's rain, I don't have school today.
Anyone wondering? go to Times Dispatch com. (type it all as one work....like a web addess and it should work)