Title : Tell Him
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : G to PG-13
Spoilers : None as such, after the Dining-Out though!
Summary : Another songfic – heard the song, couldn't resist!
Thank you to MacHarm4ever, HM foreva, jtbwriter, froggy0319, JAGJenni, hothing40, snugglebug, MaritzaCarmichael and maidenpride21, bluejay742, starryeyes10, EyeCandy and Becki for such wonderful reviews, and so here is the fourth part. I hope it meets expectations!
Friday Evening – Somewhere in Georgetown
Mac stepped down from the stage and picked up her jacket. Behind her, Harriet and Varese both noticed the droop of her shoulders. Harriet, concerned about her friend, spoke up.
"Mac? Is something wrong?"
"What?" Mac turned around at the sound of Harriet's voice, and then realized what she had said. "Oh, no…I'm okay. Just tired. I didn't get much sleep last night." 'And I'm not likely to do any better tonight,' she thought miserably.
"How's Harm? Bud says he went down to Norfolk yesterday."
"He's still down there. Problems with his client." Mac didn't expand on the fact that Harm had called just before she left the office and told her that the police were dragging their heels on the civilian charges, and therefore Harm's client had not yet been returned to the custody of the US Navy, namely Harm.
Harriet tried to make a joke, using Harm's preference for using Tomcats like most people catch cabs, but even that didn't make Mac smile. Varese, however, was curious.
"Tomcats?"
"Harm has a habit of finding a convenient military jet now and again to get him where he wants to go. So far he's been shot down in one, and ditched another in the Atlantic." Mac's explanation was concise, but uttered without any of her usual humor when she spoke about Harm's exploits in jets.
Varese didn't give up.
"So he could do the same again? I understand Norfolk is a Naval Air Station, right? Plenty of jets there."
"He drove down, so he'll have to drive back."
"Oh. Well, at least he's safer on the road, right?"
"Not exactly. Harm drives his car the same way as he flies. Fast." That was from Harriet. Mac gave her a small smile, acknowledging the humor this time, and then responded herself.
"If he drove a safe, sedate sedan I'd be less worried."
"So, what is he driving?" Varese asked, unaware of Harm's make of vehicle.
"A Corvette. Rebuilt. Actually, rebuilt with the help of your boyfriend, Varese," Mac added, smiling a little more. Varese looked amazed.
"Really? My, my…Mr Turner has been hiding his mechanical skills under a bushel. And to think, he had me looking under the hood of his car last week…said he couldn't see anything."
Harriet snorted, trying hard to hide a laugh, and failing miserably.
"What's so funny?" asked Varese, pretending to be annoyed, hands on her hips. Mac caught on to Harriet's vision, though, and laughed too.
"Have you ever thought that maybe Sturgis was more interested in looking at you looking under his hood?"
As the image came to Varese she laughed too, and Mac left the club in a much better frame of mind than when she had arrived. As she was about to step into her car, Harriet called out to her.
"If you're not doing anything tonight, Mac, how about staying over at our place for a take out and a chat? I'll throw in a cute Lieutenant Commander, and two adorable kids, too! What do you say?"
Mac didn't hesitate. Harriet's company was always good fun, and it had been a while since she had seen her godsons, if not Bud.
"You're on. I'll follow you."
"Great! Varese, can I tempt you too?"
"I'd love to, but I have other plans. I'll take a rain-check, though. Sounds like it could be fun!"
"Oh, it is!" Harriet's infectious giggle could be heard down the street as she climbed into the vehicle beside her husband. Bud waved to Mac and Varese, and they returned the gesture. As Harriet quickly explained about Mac, Bud looked again and gave Mac a smile. Turning down his window he called out.
"Don't leave me too far behind, ma'am." Mac's delight in speed since the purchase of her own Corvette was well known too!
"If you promise to call me Mac out of hours, Bud, I won't!" Mac settled into her car and waited for Bud to pull out into the traffic. As she followed him onto the street she waved as she passed Varese. It wasn't exactly the night she had hoped for, but at least she wouldn't be alone, and she did enjoy the company of Harriet and Bud, and their family.
Friday Evening – Norfolk NAS Officers' ClubHarm picked up the handset in the telephone booth and dropped coins in before starting to dial Mac's home number. When there was no answer he left a message on her machine, and then pushed some more coins in before dialling her cell phone. The sound of her voice when she answered the call was drowned by the squealing of a child.
"Mac? It's Harm!"
"Where are you? I can hardly hear you," Mac answered, fielding off a charge by AJ and his little brother as she answered her cell phone.
"I could say the same for you! I'm at the Officers' Club. I thought calling from a regular telephone might solve the static problems in the VOQ. Where are you?"
"Harriet invited me over after the rehearsal."
"Are you driving back into DC tonight?"
"No. I'm bunking here, having a takeout, and a chat with Harriet."
"I'm glad, Mac. At least one of us is having some fun."
"You sound down. Anything more since this morning?"
"Well, I've been told I can bail the guy out in the morning, and then I have to arrange for a date to take him back for his hearing. I've saved some time doing the paperwork for here, so I'm hoping to be on the road tomorrow afternoon."
"Oh…" Mac's smile faded and Harm picked up on the change in her voice.
"I'll be there, Sarah. I promise."
There it was again. Her name. Sarah. This was the second time he had used her name, and this time he had made a promise.
"I'll hold you to it, Harm."
"So you should. You know I mean it."
There was a pause, and it lengthened, neither one quite sure what to say next. The silence was broken by AJ jumping up at Mac.
"Who ya talkin' to?" he asked, trying to reach for the cell phone.
"AJ Roberts! Front and center, now!" In a tone that brooked no argument Harriet spoke to her oldest son, and the boy turned and went back to his mother. In the background Mac could hear Harriet tell AJ how rude it was to interrupt someone, and Harm chuckled on his end of the line.
"I guess you can take Harriet out of the military, but not the military out of Harriet, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess…" Mac responded, and then, softly, "…Harm?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you called."
"So'm I, but it's probably better that I let you get off and rejoin the party. I'll call when I can tomorrow."
"Okay. G'night…"
"Say 'hi' to everyone for me?" Harm knew he should let Mac go, but he was reluctant to, and was dragging out the conversation a little longer.
"I will. Bye…"
"Bye."
Harm replaced the handset and left both telephone booth and the Officers' Club. A few watched his departure, but none paid any real attention.
Friday Night – Roberts' Residence, Virginia
Mac closed her cell phone and stood with it in her hand, her attention caught on one Commander, only a few hours away, but it might as well have been as far as the moon for all the good it would do Mac right now.
"Aunty Mac, I'm sorry I was rude," AJ had come over as Mac ended her side of the call, and she smiled down at him.
"It's okay now, AJ, but your Mom is right. It's sometimes better to let people talking on a telephone get on with their conversation. If it includes you, trust them to give you the telephone when it's your turn, okay?"
"Okay, Aunty Mac. Will you come read to me and Jimmy before we have to go to sleep?"
Mac nodded and ruffled the blonde hair, so like Harriet's.
"Sure I will. Just let me know when it's time."
"Okay, I will." AJ ran off towards the bottom of the stairs, and Bud walked over as Harriet followed both her sons up the stairs to the bathroom, and then to bed.
"They're growing up so fast, Bud," Mac commented wistfully, and the man beside her nodded.
"Yes, they are. How are you, ma'…I mean, Mac?" Bud corrected himself for once, and Mac smiled.
"I'm okay, Bud. I'll be better after tomorrow night. At the very least, the show will be over and I won't have to sing again!"
"From what Harriet tells me, you and Varese make quite a formidable duo."
Mac gave Bud a knowing stare, and laughed softly.
"Bud, we both know your wife is a born romantic."
The two of them laughed at that. Moments later there was a shout from the top of the stairs.
"Aunty Mac! It's time!"
Mac grinned at Bud as she made a move toward the staircase.
To be continued