Title : More Than Meets The Eye
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount.
Rating : G to PG-13
Spoilers : Episode 'JAG TV'; I watched this through vidclips recently, and wondered what would have happened between Harm and Mac, if she gave herself some space from Mic, and found Harm! Some of the story is in the style of 'emails' sent to and fro between Harm and Mac. And some of it is upfront and personal!
Summary : Mac is angry with Mic over his comments to the media, and Harm gets some good-humored ribbing from others on board ship when they see Mac on TrialTV. Harm is on board ship for an investigation, and doing his quals at the same time. Mac is sent out to assist on another case, and finds herself getting hot under the collar!
A/N – Words inside ( ) symbols denote the emails.
Thanks go to HM foreva, Manda, Beach chickJASSNL, jaka, froggy0319, cbw, bluejay742, Cristina, Eternal Sleep, Denaliyasha, martini1988, SpaceMan546, cbw, skyefire, aserene, Manda May, jtbwriter, snugglebug, hardluckmarine, Sarah, Blueangel, alix33, Abigaile, XBlueShadowX, Razz-Mi-Tazz and Lisa for your wonderful reviews. Hope you all enjoy this chapter, and please keep reading!
FYI – Doing his 'quals' means Harm passes tests and qualifies to fly! (His greatest passion after Mac! IMHO, that is!)
CAPTAIN'S DAY CABIN - USS SEA HAWK
"You took the ring off." Harm's observation was immediate when Mac removed her gloves and jacket. Looking down at her bare right hand, she also lifted her left hand to hold them both in front of her.
"I couldn't wear it any more. Mic lied about us being engaged, and then he compounded it by trying to make it an issue and force me into making a decision."
"Stupid ass," Harm muttered, and Mac grinned.
"Yeah, I feel like that about him, too."
"Did you see him before you left, or is this all still hanging till you get back? I mean, are you going to…I'm sorry, Mac, it's none of my business."
"Actually, it is your business, Harm. I didn't get chance to tell Mic that I've taken the ring off. He came to JAG Ops just before I was due to leave, created a scene in front of the Admiral, threatened to sue him, and then stormed off!"
"He threatened to sue the Admiral? What the hell has got into him, Mac?"
"I have no idea, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm not living up to his idea of what should be happening by now."
"And what would that be."
"Barefoot and pregnant," Mac answered without a pause. "Mic wants to tie me to the kitchen sink with a couple of kids, and to tell me that there is no need for me to go back to my career because he is the man of the house now! I can't believe I didn't see it before! He's jealous of me, and what I have achieved!"
"Because you are better than he is, Mac. You've earned what you have, and you are good at what you do. Mic chose to reserve his commission, but he also made mistakes. One of which was the reason he was seconded to JAG. I've been checking up on him."
"What the hell for?"
"Because his work ethics since he left the Navy have been questionable!"
"Harm, I can't be a party to this!"
"Fine, I can deal with it on my own. Do you love him, Mac?"
"Honestly? No. I've told three men I loved them, and I've lied. The one man I really love, I've never had the guts to tell. Until now."
The initial silence grew, and Mac was beginning to feel unsure about her admission, and then Harm got the message!
"Sarah…" Harm murmured, as he took a step forward, and then paused. "I love you," he added before bringing his hands up to cup her face, and dropping his mouth to hers to kiss her. Mac gave herself up to his kiss, which was soft and reassuring at first, and then became hungry, and finally was totally devastating. As he raised his head from hers, in the desperate need for air, their foreheads rested together, each not wanting to be too far from the other now they had found one another.
"Mmmn, sailor, that was some kiss…" Mac murmured, her eyes still closed, still savoring the taste of the man who had wreaked havoc on her senses. In the past Mac had been privy to the conversations of women who had been with Harm, and in particular Jordan Parker had been quite descriptive of his prowess in and out of bed, but Mac had maintained a discreet silence, not 'oohing' with envy at whichever woman was with him at any given time. Except now. Now it was Sarah Mackenzie who was with Harm, and this time was for ever.
Harm smiled at her expression, and he dropped another, quick, kiss on her lips before he spoke.
"Sarah, look at me."
Mac opened her eyes slowly, and Harm was still there, still smiling.
"What is it, Harm?"
"You still haven't said it," he prompted, knowing there was never any doubt, but wanting to hear the words from Mac herself.
"Said it?" Mac echoed, confused for a moment. And then the reason dawned on her. "Oh! Oh, Harm, of course! I love you! I do! I…love…you…" Each word punctuated with a kiss, Mac made sure Harm understood that she loved him. When he took over the last kiss, Mac gave herself up to him, and very little was said for a very long time. In fact, it was Mac, seated across Harm's lap, who happened to realize exactly how much time they had spent – alone – in the day cabin.
"Erm…Harm?"
"Mmmn?" Harm was finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than Mac's mouth, and Mac's rear wriggling in his lap, causing all kinds of sensations!
"We've been in here for fifty seven minutes and ten seconds. Where do you think Captain Johnson is?"
"I have no idea…" Harm roused himself enough to realize what Mac was getting at. If they continued in their present pursuit, it wouldn't be long before clothes would be shed, and inhibitions about regulations along with the clothes!
"We'd better get up, and straighten ourselves, before he gets here…"
"Agreed." Harm spoke, but didn't move.
"Now, Harm!" Both of them grinned at Mac's order, and reluctantly parted, getting to their feet and straightening their uniforms. Mac put out a hand to brush Harm's hair back into its usual state of order, and Harm did likewise to Mac, additionally rubbing his thumb across her lips to erase what little remained of her lipstick. Mac groaned, and only just resisted the temptation to lick at the pad of his thumb. Instead, she settled for rubbing the remnants of her lipstick from his face too. Neither one spoke, but their eyes gave away their still-hyped emotions.
When Captain Johnson entered the cabin, Harm and Mac came to attention, perfectly groomed and correctly attired. If he noticed anything amiss, the Captain wasn't saying!
OFFICE OF THE SECNAV - WASHINGTON DC
"What are you suggesting, AJ?" The SecNav sat back in his chair as he viewed the Judge Advocate General of the US Navy and smiled, albeit inwardly, at the man's unruffled exterior.
"I'm suggesting, sir, that we allow the Commander and the Colonel some leeway."
"To do what, exactly?"
"To live their lives together, Mister Secretary. We run the risk of losing one, or both, of them if not."
"I wouldn't have you pegged as a man to break the rules, Admiral."
"I don't consider it to be breaking them, sir. Just bending a little. Technically they wouldn't be fraternizing, as they are both of equal rank now…" Chegwidden began, but the SecNav waved him down.
"They are in the same chain of command, AJ."
"Granted, sir, but there is the option to transfer one or the other out of that chain, and still retain both of them at JAG."
"You have a suggestion; I can tell." The SecNav smiled, and Chegwidden realized that what he had planned for his senior officers just might work out.
"Yes, sir, I do." AJ went on to explain his idea that Mac could move to a judiciary posting, but still remain in the JAG building. It would mean a relocation to another office, but at least both she and Harm would still be near each other.
"It could work, I suppose. Given their colorful…history…together, do you think it would work?"
"Sir, I've never seen a couple more suited to each other than those two. In the past they've behaved more like a married couple than even Lieutenant Roberts and his wife."
"I thought the Colonel was already engaged? To the Australian. Brumby, isn't it?"
"Was is the operative word, I believe, Mister Secretary." AJ smiled to himself as he recalled seeing Mac's ringless fingers before she left the office to go offshore.
"Leave it with me, Admiral, and I will give you my decision as soon as I have thought it over."
Chegwidden got to his feet, thanked the SecNav for his time, and was about to leave the office when his name was called once more.
"You can tell them that I expect nothing less than total decorum in the office, but what they do in their own time is their business. They can both remain in your command at this time, and I will reserve the idea of a transfer to the judiciary as a future option. A very good idea, that, AJ. Wish I'd thought of it myself."
"Thank you, sir!" Chegwidden bit back a smile, and nodded his head instead.
"You're welcome."
"Goodbye, sir."
Chegwidden left the SecNav's office with a number of thoughts on his mind. Not least of which was just how to let Harm and Mac know that they had the approval of the SecNav, no less, to conduct their private lives as they saw fit.
As he mulled over the points on his return journey to JAG Headquarters he laughed softly when he realized he had the perfect words, and the means to deliver them.
tbc
