Part 13: A Journey of Separate Hearts – A Postcard and a slow Dance
Spoiler: Only a hint of "Lifeline" and "Answered Prayers" (you'll know when and where g)
Disclaimers: The song "She Moves Through The Fair" was once performed by the group Boyzone and is on the album "A Different Beat". But originally it's an old Irish folk song.
AN: A big THANK YOU to starry10, KJFlygirl87 (Kirsten) and xXsmashing-pumpkins-grlXx for reviewing my story. It's so wonderful to get feedback and learn that my story is read by you!
Thank you very much!! :-)
February 11th 2003, Tuesday
0830 Zulu (08:30 hrs GMT)
Mac's Room
Shannon's Inn
Dublin, Ireland
Warm sunlight flooded the hotel room and touched Mac's face. She was stirred by the warm touch and slowly opened her eyes. She felt wonderful – for a long time she hadn't slept this well and long. She checked her internal clock and was slightly shocked how late it already was: 0830!
But why should she care – she was on a well-deserved vacation and wasn't in a hurry.
She looked around and took in her surroundings. The room looked even warmer in the daylight that lightened up everything through the big French door-windows.
She swung her long legs out of the bed and walked dressed only in her satin white nightgown to the French door, opening it.
The door led to a huge balcony and she was amazed when she looked around and breathed in not only the cool, fresh air but also the wonderful view over Dublin: its wonderful buildings, the Liffey River flowing directly through Dublin and the breathtaking Wicklow Mountains.
She was totally lost in it so she didn't hear as a second French door was opened. According to its size, the balcony was a two room one and so one door gave Harm access to the balcony, too.
Harm had had a wonderful night as well and when he softly opened the door, he caught Mac's appearance and was stopped in his own motions. He couldn't turn his gaze from her and for a hundred times or more he admitted that Sarah MacKenzie was probably the most beautiful woman in the whole word. At least he didn't know any woman who could hold a candle to Mac's beauty. She looked sexy as hell: barefoot, her hair tousled from sleep and in her short nightgown, which reminded him strongly of a similar one she'd worn in Russia some years ago.
She felt someone staring at her and she turned only to find her half-asleep sailor dressed only in his boxers looking at her. She smiled and blushed from his intense gaze. But she neither could turn away her gaze from his muscled, bare chest.
"Morning, Mac!" Harm broke the silence and walked next to her.
"Morning yourself, Harm." she replied softly. "How did you sleep?"
"Wonderfully. It seems that I really needed and still need this vacation to get away from the stress in Washington. … Wow! Those mountains are wonderful, as amazing as the whole view from here."
"Yeah, it's really breathtaking and these mountains are the Wicklow Mountains. They are also called 'House hills' because they surround Dublin. And can you see that river there?" She pointed to a sparkling something on the horizon. "That's the Liffey River. It flows through Dublin."
Harm listened amazed to Mac's explanation. It seemed she had done her 'homework' very well and he was convinced she was the best 'tour guide' he could have – and for sure the best looking one anyway.
Suddenly he felt Mac trembling.
"Hey, marine, you're shivering. It's cold, better go inside before you catch a cold."
"No, it's only a little bit chilly. I'm fine and I want to enjoy the view for a while." 'And your nearness, too!' she admitted to herself.
He didn't say anything until she trembled again – only a little bit more than some moments ago.
Harm knew she would deny it and wouldn't go inside as long as she didn't want to. And to be honest, he was glad to have her next to him for a few more minutes if only to feel her nearness. But he couldn't allow Mac to freeze.
He followed his urge to hold her close…warming her, and pulled her into his arms, her back at his chest like the way they had held each other on Martha's terrace some nights ago.
First she was shocked and wanted to yell at him, what the hell he thought he was doing, but when she felt his gentle arms holding her close and his tender warmth surrounding her, she was lost. That felt again so right and she couldn't complain at having him even closer than before.
He was unsure only for a second, but after he felt her relaxing against him, he knew it was okay with her. So he just enjoyed the feeling of holding her in his arms.
Neither of them said or did anything until Mac moved in his embrace. First he thought she wanted to go inside. Therefore he loosened his grip around her and was going to drop his arms, when she stopped their motions by grasping his arms, and placing them around her waist. She even tightened his hold on her body. She turned slowly to look straight into his blue orbs, locking them with her chocolate ones. With a questioning look on his face he started to speak only to be stopped by her left index finger on his mouth, causing a shiver down his spine. He was stunned by her actions and didn't argue when she placed her right hand on his neck and lowered his head to hers. In slow motion their eyes closed, their mouths approached and finally met in a slow, soft, tender kiss. Neither a wild passionate one like the one on the Admiral's porch at Mac's engagement party, nor a short friendship kiss like the one under the mistletoe two Christmas' ago. This one was totally different. It was a kiss couples would share when kissing each other for the first time.
A long moment later Mac broke away only a few inches and searched insecurely into Harm's eyes for a hint of regret. But there was only love, maybe a flash of shock for a second, but no regret. And then his eyes darkened with passion. Before she knew what happening, their mouths met again but this time in a wild, passionate kiss. He pressed his lips hard on hers, his tongue begging for entrance. One hand pressed on his chest the other tangled in his hair when she clung to him and opened her mouth to him. He pressed her even closer when his mouth plundered her, his tongue delving deep into her mouth, wrestling with hers.
She was drowning in this feeling, totally lost by his touch on her skin. She felt weak in her knees, but he immediately tightened his hold.
After a while they pulled away and could only stare at each other before a sheepish teenager smile appeared on both faces.
"Well…"
"Well…that was quite different." whispered Mac never really leaving his strong, protective arms.
"Um…is that bad or good?" replied Harm shyly.
"Mmm…let me think about it…" she teased him and her eyes looked to the sky. "Maybe you'll have to do it again, so I can come to a verdict."
"Is that an order, Colonel?" one eyebrow rose in question, but in his eyes was already a shimmering, longing sparkle.
"You could say so, Commander." she played along.
"Well, then I have to carry out my duty! Permission to kiss the Lt. Colonel?" he asked jokingly, but the hint of seriousness couldn't be hidden by his teasing tone.
"Permission granted!" she smiled, totally excited about what would happen next.
Again he pulled her softly to him and lowered his head. He couldn't wait to feel her warm, full lips again on his. He could feel her soft skin and her curves of her body through the thin material of her nightgown when stroking her small back up and down while the other hand caressed her cheek. He'd waited for so long and finally on a chilly morning in Dublin it happened. This time nobody was in their way. They could finally explore their feelings and with the willpower of two longing hearts they finally could overcome all the mistakes they had made during the years. Finally, both of them were ready and nothing in the world would be able to keep him away from the woman he'd loved for so long.
Mac was lost again and even her always exactly working inner clock was tuned off by his soft, warm, longing touch. She wanted so much more, though the kisses and being able to feel his bare skin under her fingertips were more than she had ever hoped for. But she knew this wasn't the right moment for the final step in the physical part of their new relationship. They hadn't even admitted their true feelings to each other. It was way too early. Nevertheless, she was willing to risk and to do everything to have him. But therefore she had to stop this now, because she knew if she let him hold and kiss her like this only a few moments longer, she wouldn't be able to pull away.
With a heavy heart and a deep sigh she released his lips, their eyes still locked on one another.
"It's way too wonderful. You know how to treat a woman, Harm. But if you continued that, I would be totally lost and we probably would have taken a step I'm not ready for yet – you either. Please, don't get me wrong, Harm. I want you…want you badly, but we have to slow down and take it step by step. Can you understand that?"
When speaking she had turned her eyes down afraid of what she might see in his.
He fell even harder for her when he saw her like this: totally open, unprotected and full of concern. It touched him so deeply that she was so worried – worried about him, his reaction and their relationship. He put his thumb and index finger on her chin and softly forced her to look back at him.
"Sarah…I understand perfectly and you're right. We should go slowly and simply enjoy what we now have found. And, of course, we have still so many things to discuss. I want to know what you think, what you feel and I want to spend every single moment of this vacation with you. So don't doubt me or our growing relationship, trust me."
"Harm, I've always trusted you and will always trust you. And I'm glad you are here with me. But how about we get dressed, eat breakfast and visit Dublin by day?"
"Wonderful idea, Mac – I bet your marine stomach is already yelling at you for not feeding it!" he teased, and as if her stomach had heard him, it answered with a deep rumble.
"I guess you have your answer, squid. C'mon, let's go!"
"Do you need any help with dressing?" he asked with a mischievous nearly naughty grin.
"In your dreams, Commander, or at least not yet."
"Is that a promise?" his voice teasing with a gleam of hope.
"Get your six moving, flyboy!" she answered amused and gave him a short slap on his buttock.
"Ow, that wasn't very nice, Mac." But before he could return the favor, she ran backwards into her room, a look on her face that said "Oh, poor navy boy!"
"Ok, Mac, paybacks are hell," he stated more to himself than to her. He turned around and disappeared in his room as well.
February 11th 2003, Tuesday
Afternoon
Dublin, Ireland
After a wonderful breakfast made by Rose they had time left to see Dublin on their own. At the information point they had bought two tickets for a sightseeing bus tour. They had visited the Dublin Castle – a wonderful huge castle in the middle of the city, the two well-known catholic cathedrals – the Christ-Church-Cathedral and the St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Kilmainham Gaol – a former prison, went down in history as a very brutal prison, the Bank of Ireland – a wonderful building, which was the former Parliament building and of course the James Joyce monument – a statue of Ireland's national poet.
The last stop of this interesting bus tour was the most impressive one for both Harm and Mac: the catholic Trinity College with the "Book of Kells". This book was a kind of bible, hand written and illustrated by monks on an island during the dark Middle Age but before the Vikings. They saw a piece of long, long ago history right in front of them and felt deeply impressed.
After the tour they walked along the Liffey river and enjoyed the view from the Liffey Bridge, also called 'Ha 'penny Bridge' in the vernacular.
Then Mac had suggested walking along the O'Connell Street, the shopping boulevard with the original General Post Office and lots of boutiques and restaurants. O'Connell Street was the most magnificent street in Dublin and began directly at the Liffey Bridge.
Now they decided to sit down and eat a late lunch. They spotted a typical Irish pub, ordered and enjoyed their meals in comfortable silence. They shared only the looks they gave each other, when neither of them thought the other would see them.
When they had paid, they left the pub and strolled along the three other shopping streets: Nassan Street, Dawson Street and last Grafton Street where they visited the Molly Malone monument – a monument in memory of all the street vendors in the history of Dublin.
Suddenly Mac remembered the promise they had made to Martha. She had asked them to send a postcard from each city they visit.
"Harm, we need to buy a postcard. We promised Martha. Do you remember?"
"Yes, of course, but if you hadn't said anything about it, I probably would have forgotten it. C'mon; let's take a look. I'm sure we'll find one!"
They searched for the right one and Mac finally found one that impressed her deeply. The postcard showed a picture from the whole island, probably taken in the air, but you still could see the typical green hills and landscape of Ireland. In white italic letters was written: "Ireland is not just an Island. Ireland is made of its mountains, fertile fields, green forests, its rivers and lakes, the sea around it. But its soul is made of the people who built it, the fairytales and legends, its history and especially all the generations of Irish people, alive or not yet born."
"Harm, that's just wonderful! What do you think?" she asked him after reading the text out loud for him.
"I like it very much and I'm sure it's the right postcard for Martha showing her how much Ireland impressed us in just two days."
Mac bought the postcard and a stamp. They sat down on a bank and she wrote:
Tuesday, 03-02-11
Dear Martha,
Harm and I send an Irish hello from Dublin to you.
We've had a wonderful time so far and really don't want to leave Dublin
and Ireland. But we're anxious to know where we'll go next.
As promised we took lots of photos and hope they can
reflect all the wonderful experiences and emotions we had while
visiting Dublin. The Shannon's Inn is a wonderful hotel and Rose and Jack
Shannon are wonderful people as well as Gaelic. They send their hello, too.
We still can't believe what you've already done for us, even if you cannot exactly figure out what it is. You'll see when we're back home.
Thank you very much!
Love, Harm & Sarah.
They left the card at the General Post Office and because of the late hour they headed back to the Shannon's Inn.
February 11th 2003, Tuesday
2000 Zulu (20:00 hrs GMT)
Shannon's Inn
Dublin, Ireland
When Harm and Mac arrived back at the hotel, Rose told them that at 08:00 pm a typical Irish evening would take place in the big living room of the hotel: traditional folk music, food and, of course, original Irish Guiness beer. A note from Gaelic told them, too, that they would leave the hotel at 10:30 to head for the airport.
So they freshened up, changed and packed their suitcases and went sharply at eight o'clock down to the living room.
They enjoyed a wonderful Irish dinner and Harm couldn't resist tasting a Guiness beer while Mac drank her usual tonic water with a splash of lemon. Mac nearly had to force him to drink one of those beers, because he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Finally he gave in and enjoyed one Guiness. After that, he drank bottled water as well.
They had lots of fun, talked to Rose, Jack and other hotel guests, listened and danced to the wonderful Irish music.
They didn't really noticed how late it was until Gaelic arrived.
In that moment the band chose to play a wonderful slow Irish folk song called "She Moves Through The Fair" and Harm asked Mac for their last dance.
He encircled her softly in his arms and she placed her hands immediately around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder. They simply enjoyed their closeness before Harm whispered softly in her ear, "You know, I really love to dance with you like this, holding you in my arms. I love being here with you and never would want to be anywhere else. I care about you – you are my one and only, my lifeline. Please don't let go ever!"
He hadn't said it with those three special words but she knew that it was Harm's way of telling her that she was the most important person in his life and he didn't want to lose her. For now, it was the only way he could say 'I love you' to her. Now she understood that he had shown her his feelings through his actions, not through words – so many times. And for now it was the best she would get from Harm. Mac knew he still needed time and this time she would give it to him.
Suddenly the song ended and Gaelic urged them to hurry up.
"Rose, Jack, we had a wonderful time at your hotel. You both are wonderful people and I think Mac and I would be pleased to return one day and stay longer than two days. Thank you very much for everything," Harm said to them.
"You are both more than welcome and we would be happy to have you as guests again. Martha has our number. So let us know when you want to come back for a longer visit! Enjoy the rest of your vacation!" answered Rose.
They hugged each other and Gaelic drove them for the last time to their next destination: Dublin International Airport.
February 11th 2003, Tuesday
2300 Zulu (23:00 hrs GMT)
Dublin International Airport
Dublin, Ireland
Gaelic stopped the cab right in front of the airport and helped Mac and Harm with their luggage. He led them directly to the gate they would have to use.
"So, Gaelic, where do we go now?" This time the suspense was almost killing Harm.
"Take a look." said Gaelic and handed him a big white envelope. Harm opened it and the first thing he grabbed was a tour guide. On its front cover was a picture of Big Ben.
"London, Mac! Our next destination is London!" he shouted out happily.
"I…I can't believe it. There's so much to see: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Themse, Hyde Park…" Mac continued.
"Ok, guys, calm down. First of all, you need to get your plane. It's already been called. So hurry up."
"Thank you, Gaelic, for everything, I'll never forget you." Mac said and hugged him tightly.
"Me neither! Thank you, Gaelic. Take care!" Harm answered as well.
"Good bye, my friends, I won't forget you, either. If one of you is ever in Dublin again, give me a call and I'll show you the places you've missed."
With this, Harm and Mac hurried to the gateway and disappeared a few moments later.
Gaelic looked after them a huge smile on his face. 'Martha was right, there are quite a couple!'