Disclaimer and other important information in Chapter 1
Author's note: I'll try to post a chapter every two days. Hopefully that will give me enough time to finish the last three chapters before I have to post them.
Chapter 2
In the meantime Harriet and Jen had noticed their absence.
"Did they leave ma'am?" Jen asked Harriet who was looking out at the parking lot.
"No, the Commander's car is still here." Harriet replied, "The admiral's car is gone though."
"I guess he wanted to slip out without anybody noticing," Jen said.
Another petty officer who was standing nearby entered the conversation, "Were you looking for Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie Ma'am?" he asked.
"Yes petty officer we were," Harriet replied.
"I saw them out on the porch about half an hour ago." He said.
"Thank you petty officer Green," Harriet said before she and Jen headed for the door out to the porch.
Jen opened the door, "they aren't out here anymore ma'am," she said. "Maybe they went for a walk? Oh, there they are coming down the path."
Harriet walked over. The first thing she noticed is that the commander had his hand over the colonel's. The second thing she noticed was how tired the colonel looked.
"We might want to get back to the party ma'am. We don't want them to think we were spying" Jen said.
"I like the way you think Jen," Harriet said and they headed back to the dance floor.
A few minutes later Harm approached Jen.
"Jen do you think you could take a cab home," he asked, "I'm going to drive the colonel home."
"Of course sir," Jen replied, "is the colonel feeling alright?"
"She's just a little tired," Harm answered.
Jen knew there was more to it but didn't push the issue.
"Ok sir," Jen said, "I'll see you later."
"See you," Harm replied and then left with Mac.
Jen turned to Harriet, "what do you think is really going on ma'am?"
"I don't know Jen," Harriet replied, "But I think it's more than just Mr. Webb's death."
"Me too ma'am," Jen replied, "I guess the colonel will tell us in her own time."
"I guess so Jen," Harriet said.
Harm walked Mac up to her door.
"Get some rest, I'll pick you up in the morning for Clay's ceremony" Harm said and he leaned down to give her another hug.
"Harm?" Mac said timidly.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"Will you stay here tonight?" Mac asked, "I just don't think I can be alone right now."
"Of course Mac, just let me call Mattie to let her know I won't be home tonight." Harm said without hesitation.
Mac opened the door and they went inside.
"Make your phone call," Mac said, "I'm going get changed."
By the time Harm was off the phone with Mattie Mac had gotten changed and got a pillow and blanket so Harm could sleep on the couch.
"Was Mattie ok with you staying here?" Mac asked.
"Yeah, she was more than ok. Of course she thinks this means we're getting together." Harm replied.
"Why would she think that?" Mac asked a little confused.
"I sort of told her that I loved you a few weeks ago so ever since then she's been bugging me to tell you how I feel. Needless to say she was ecstatic when I told her that I did." Harm explained.
"What is it with us and telling other people about how we feel instead of each other?" Mac said.
"What do you mean?" Harm asked, now he was the one who was confused.
"I told Sturgis almost 3 years ago that I loved you," Mac explained.
"Well we told each other now and that's what matters. Now you should be getting to bed." Harm said steering her toward the bedroom.
"Are you ok for something to sleep in or do you want me to try and find something?" Mac asked glancing at his mess dress uniform.
"Actually if you have one of Clay's t-shirts that would be great." Harm said as he took off him jacket, "and a hanger for my uniform would be good too."
"Actually I can do you one better," Mac said cryptically before she disappeared into her bedroom.
She emerged from her room a few minutes later with couple of hangers and a 'Property of the US Navy' shirt.
"You lent it to me to sleep in in Afghanistan, I never got around to returning it," Mac explained with a shrug. She handed the items to Harm. Harm finished stripping down to his boxers and pulled the shirt over his head. He couldn't help but notice that it seemed to be quite a bit more worn than when he last saw it. He didn't mention that to Mac though.
"Thanks Mac, "He said, "You should get to bed. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night Harm, thanks again for staying," she said as she leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Night Ninja girl, and your welcome," He replied, she smiled at the use of the nickname and then went into her bedroom. She flopped onto the bed and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Harm however laid on the couch staring at the ceiling. He just kept running the night's events over and over in his head. Did it really happen? Did he and Mac finally admit their feeling to each other? Why was life so cruel? Right when they finally got their chance Mac was diagnosed with a possibly life threatening condition. He pondered these and other questions for over an hour before he slowly drifted off to sleep.
Harm had been asleep for barely half and hour when he heard her. Mac was crying out in her sleep. It was clear she was having a nightmare.
When Harm opened her bedroom door she was thrashing around in her bed. He immediately went over and tried to wake her. When she wouldn't wake up he tried to comfort her. He stroked her hair and whispered soothing words. Eventually she calmed down enough for him to hold her. Once she was in his arms she stopped fighting all together and fell back into a peaceful slumber. Harm waited a few minutes 'til he thought she was truly asleep. He started to get up when he heard Mac's voice,
"Harm?" she mumbled.
"Yeah Mac?" he replied softly.
"Stay with me?" she sounded so meek and vulnerable. Harm didn't say anything he just climbed into bed beside her. She immediately curled into his side and then fell back asleep knowing she was safe in the arms of the man she loved.
TBC