Note: This story was, originally, a stand alone until I had the bright (or dumb) idea to have it as a sequel to "Something For The Pain". As a stand alone, Harm and Mac were going to have to go into the woods to search for someone, and have a little adventure (it was oddly a lot like Heart Of Darkness and conceived long before those spoilers came out, go figure!) – hence the title Fully Engaged as in "Full Engagement" which is my fav JAG episode. IT wasn't going to be a re-write, simply a new story, with a similar idea – Harm and Mac in the woods, going through their bantering and maybe throw in a hillbilly or two for fun. - Anyway, as a Stand Alone it was supposed to be WINTER and COLD and since this is a continuation of SFTP (which takes place in summer), you are going to have to bare with me. I've read of some freaky cold summers up North – and even though I am not putting them THAT far north, bare with me. If you don't like it, let me just put out two words for you – BODY HEAT. – Something that, during summer, is not a necessity. ;) And there is actually two or three of those "scenes" in the story. – Enjoy! J.
Thanks to: XBlueShadowX, Aimee5, Charmboy4, starryeyes10, Nikki, dansingwolf, jag4ever, lei, Jackia, EternalSleep, Cristina, Tina Frank, achaon, Abigaile, Hieros Gamos, froggy0319, joanoa, JadeAlmasy, SpaceMan546, dansingwolf, carbygirl , JAGJenni, Manda, starryeyes, BiteBeccy, ng59678, LtColDevilDog, martini, mizukimarr, jtbwriter, Macaroon, Lissie, n.k, Lt.jgMegAustin, cbw, dansingwolf, Apion, alix33, jnp, MacHarm4Ever, Tania, Macaroon, harmfan, Jagnut, Claire Vincent, Navy Babe, Nix, Martini, jaggurl, Laura, CoolCat, sunnysky, smithknk, mjag, FoxyWombat, carbygirl, Sunny and anyone else I missed for the Feedback
PART 2 – Preparations, Deep Breaths Lots Of Coffee
July 18, 2005
2230 Zulu
AJ Chegwidden's Home
McLean, Virginia
The idea to head to AJ Chegwidden's home had been a unanimous one. It being a bad idea for Harm to remain in JAG ops, and the group deciding where it would be best to 'hide out' had, somehow, wound up in McLean. He was the best choice, a man that was well versed in missions and combat, he was a friend and not the first person that the CIA would go to. All in all, it worked well.
The greeting between Chegwidden and Creswell surprised Mac, who had always retained the notion that they only knew each other by hearsay. But, no, the way that they greeted each other was more like that of old friends. "You two know each other?"
AJ grinned at his former Chief of Staff. "Know each other? Hell, Biff was one of the Marine Recon leaders when I was driving boats for the Navy. . . We used to be poker buddies every Friday night." Harm and Mac glanced at each other, mouthing the word – 'Biff?' with a hint of amusement at their CO's name.
Creswell gave AJ a pat on the back. "AJ will play anyone under the table."
"We know." Replied the three other men in the room. A few times a year, Bud, Sturgis, Harm and AJ would get together for a 'guys night out' poker game while Mac and Harriet did 'girl things.' Each and every time, the Admiral had cleaned house.
The group spent small time, taking trips down memory lane. It was something that Harm especially needed given the dark nature of his current situation. But, soon, all of that had to come to an end, there was something he needed to find. The map Khadija had given Harm, had been laid out on the coffee table where Biff and AJ sat, trying to make heads or tail out of a map that had things erased from it, others penciled in. They both were confused as to Harm even managed to get home. "Luck." Had been his explanation which made some sort of sense seeing as our favorite pilot-turned-lawyer, seemed to always land on all fours. Still, it didn't really help them figure out where the exact location had been. And, unfortunately for all, Harm was too pumped up on morphine at the time to remember. They knew it was up in the Maritimes, but that stretched to be a lot land and that would take a lot of time and resources, neither of which they had. It took nearly an hour, for AJ and Biff to come up with the best plausible location considering the things that Harm did remember, and the use of the tattered map.
Bud had searched out information on the climate of the local. Harm had remembered, that, even in spring, the days were much colder than in DC and the Maritimes had a penchant for odd weather. Furthermore, there would be a storm going through, that would, no doubt, make the temperatures colder than normal. Then came the evenings, which normally had a bit of chill in the air to begin with. Clothing would be an issue, so Sturgis and Bud were sent out to find things for Harm and Mac to wear until they arrived over the boarder, from there, they could purchase things as they saw fit.
"There's another thing. . .We can't just walk on over there. At least I can't." Harm said with a sigh. "Getting over here in the first place took me days." He'd ended up needing to stow in a truck, scared to death that an inspection would reveal the extra cargo. They didn't know exactly who was in on it all and if they were waiting for him at the boarder. If the CIA was involved, he was sure that they had some of their own people waiting in the major cities. Disguises could always be used, but not all of them worked well.
"I think I can help with that. . .There's an insurgent of Marines heading across the border as part of a joint operation with the Canadian Army's anti-terrorist task force. . . I think I can find a way to have you two join them." Creswell said, laying another problem to rest.
With a grin, Mac nudged Harm.. "Hear that, flyboy, you get to play Marine again."
"I think you liked that waaaaaay too much, MacKenzie." He said, pointing at her and trying to maintain a look of mock hurt, but failing as a smile crept out. He had to admit, he liked it too, there was something to be said about training men and seeing it through with them. Thank God non of them were seriously hurt.
"Well, it was fun watching your sorry squid six, try to be a Marine." She teased with him. Truth be told, she found Harm looked kinda sexy in those Marine greens. She sure liked that haircut he had to get for the job and the fact that she was his superior, well, that was nice too.
"Hey! I did pretty well!" He defended, reaching out to poke her sides. And they were lost in their own little world, oblivious of the two men who were amused by their intriguing relationship.
AJ glanced over at Biff and let out a deep chuckle. "Getting tired of that yet?"
"How did you handle it for so long?" Creswell sighed, they were good together, that much he had to give them. He didn't have any real problems with Harm and Mac being an item, as long as they kept their love life out of his office.
How did AJ handle it for so long? They were both overgrown children with odd needs, but similar dedications. However, when the job needed to be done, they did manage to put personal things aside and work, as a team. That was what he always admired about Harm and Mac. It was what he missed when Harm left JAG and turned to the CIA. So, how did he do it? How do you handle eight years of Harm and Mac? "Deep breaths, lots of coffee and the occasional need to treat them like kindergarten babies."
"Check on the deep breaths and coffee. . ." Biff chuckled, raising up his mug of java.
2304 Zulu
Raymond Levine's Home
Alexandria, Virginia
Whatever Major Chris Steele expected, this wasn't it. He'd walked into the mansion, headed straight to Ray's office and, the moment he walked in: WHAM! "What the HELL was that for?" He yelled at Ray who'd slapped him straight across the face with a force that Chris didn't know the older man had. "Jesus!" Self-consciously he rubbed at the sore spot then moved his jaw around, making sure it hadn't locked.
Raymond Levine, I guess you could say he was pretty. . .upset. "What the hell was that for?" He yelled angrily before walking over to a small bar and pouring himself some cognac. "What was your mission regarding Colonel MacKenzie?"
"To watch her and seduce her, sir." He spat out, still rubbing the area that was stinging more than it should have. Seduction, had it worked, would have been an exquisite technique. Chris had found that women often would ramble on about sensitive information in the afterglow of sex.
"You stupid son of a bitch!" Ray yelled, then took another gulp of cognac. "When I suggested that you try seducing her, I didn't suggest for you to try and rape her!" He slammed his fist into his desk, the sound reverberating within the walls.
Chris glared at Ray, thoughts of doing bodily harm to the man passing fleetingly through his mind. "I really don't see a difference."
"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you. . .What is it that the military calls it when you lose your mind?"
"Section eight."
Ray snapped his fingers. "Yes, section eight. . . Should I start to worry about your state of mind Christopher? I mean, I know you always were a bit out of sorts, but you seem to be out of control."
"If you see me as such a problem, transfer me out of JAG and get me off of this. . . game you are playing." Frankly, he was getting tired of pretending to be what he wasn't. It was stupid, it was a joke and a man of his talents, needed action not to be playing lawyer.
That set Ray off as all images of succeeding in his current endeavor were being torn to pieces by the man standing in front of him. "We can't just transfer you out, you moron! I need someone on the inside since it seems I can't trust Mr. Webb anymore. . . I need someone to watch Sarah MacKenzie."
Chris just chuckled, in all of the things that he looked into about Mac and the short time they spent together he deduced that she'd never been in contact with Harm. In fact, he believed, like everyone else did that Harm was dead. "Look, you don't need me. Rabb isn't there. Even she believes that he is dead. . .Trust me, I can see it in her eyes."
"And what exactly is it that you see?"
It wouldn't have bothered him if it wasn't that he was smitten on the Colonel. "Loss. . .you see the pain of loss in her eyes. Like when you lose a lover. She wouldn't be so lost if he were alive, you can't pretend forever."
"She'll press charges on you. What are we going to do about that?"
With a sigh, Chris dropped into a chair across from Ray's desk. He let a few ideas run through his mind, then grinned. "It's her word against mine. . .Everyone knows she's out of sorts. I can use that. . . I took her home and left, that was it. She invented it."
"It would have been much easier if you just thought with your head instead of your dick." The ring of the phone cut the conversation between the two men short. "Hello. . .yes this is he. . .WHAT!. . .Well, was anyone with him?. . .Christ. . .Yes, yes, thank you." He slammed the phone back into its cradle, finished gulping down the cognac and tossed the glass against the wall.
Chris shook his head and chuckled. "I guess that was bad news?"
"Oh yea. . . Clayton Webb is alive. In critical condition, but alive, at Bethesda."
"So send someone over there to finish the job."
Ray nodded, yes that is what he would do, but there was something else. "There was a man with him, tall, dark hair, light eyes. . . It was Rabb, I know it."
Chris' jaw tightened, no it couldn't be. Rabb couldn't be alive, it was just insane. "What do you want me to do?"
"Go on with things as planned. . .if you find him. . .kill him."
July 19, 2005
0230 Zulu
AJ Chegwidden's Home
McLean, Virginia
"How'd you learn all of this, Bud?" Sturgis stood to the side, admiring how the young Lt. Commander's computer knowledge had created two fake IDs. It hadn't taken him all that long and with the use of Photoshop and AJ's laminating machine, they looked practically genuine.
Computers, for Bud, had always been a labor of love. Though he wouldn't trade his life at JAG for anything in the world, he always wondered what it would be like if he'd continued his technical studies. "Well, when we were younger, my buddies and I needed fake IDs to get into this night club, so we got really good at it."
"I can see." Sturgis took the newly laminated ID and stared at it with disbelief. As of this moment, Harm and Mac were Canadian citizens – David and Catherine Elliott, a husband and wife team of topographical analysts. "You should have gone to a technical school, Bud."
"Yea, I wanted to, but Dad had me join the Navy.. . . I don't regret it though." With the family he had, the friends he made and one special person in his life, Harriet, there were never any regrets. "Besides, I wouldn't have met Harriet." That, he believed, was something that could never be traded.
Just outside of AJ's office, Harm, Mac, AJ and Creswell sat at his dinner table, bouncing ideas off of each other. "I'll make sure that the Marines hand the two of you at least a pistol each."
AJ nodded. "I agree, anything more than that would be would be ludicrous." He turned over to Harm and Mac. "You two are sure about this? I mean, no back up?"
Mac nodded. "Yes, sir. . .the Commander and I will be fine."
"I'll handle everyone at the office. Major Steele will be told that you left in order to visit a sick relative." Creswell offered as a perfectly plausible reason as to why she'd be out of the office. TADs could be traced, but if she went off on personal time, it would be different.
Bud had caught the tail end of the conversation, and at the mention of Major Steele, the normally calm Commander was livid. "With all due respect, sir. . .Why does Major Steele need to know anything about the Colonel? As far as I am concerned, it's non of his damn business what Mac does."
"I don't follow, Commander." Creswell was mildly curious at what Bud was getting at. He'd sensed a. . . tension between Bud and Chris, but figured it was just a rivalry considering Bud was kicking Chris' six all over the courtroom.
Bud had wanted to say something about Major Steele's demeanor in reference to Mac, but he'd never been one to spread scuttlebutt. Not to mention, Mac would probably have his ass in a sling if she found out he was playing hero. But, considering their current non-formal circumstance, he figured it would be a good idea to come clean.. "He's attracted to the Colonel and while that isn't a crime. . .I don't know. . there was. . . something in his eyes which leads me to believe that his intentions towards the Colonel are not healthy." And that was putting it lightly because what Bud saw in Chris' eyes was downright scary. "I know you do not need protection, Ma'am, which is why I didn't say anything. He didn't really say anything lewd but, his demeanor. . ." With a sigh, and his head hanging low, he confessed. "I'm not the type to lose my head, but, we had it out in the JAG elevators. . .I told him I'd hurt him if he tried anything with you."
Harm had been relatively calm about Steele after Mac confessed to having clocked him in the unmentionables. Now, he was starting to worry, had things been far worse than that? "Mac?" He wanted to vouch for her and Bud. To let people know that Steele had attacked her, but it wasn't his call and he didn't need an angry Marine on his case.
"Thank you, Bud. . .and, your actions weren't unfounded." She raised her hand up, showing the ugly bruise on her wrist. Mac didn't want anyone to know, as much as she should have pressed charges, she believed in getting things done herself. She didn't want to become a victim or be treated as one. "This was a gift from the Major when he believed a business dinner to be something more."
All of the men around her fought to control their own anger. Mac was well liked, respected and feared. She was one of them, one of the family and anyone treating her in such a way, would pay dearly. "I can't wait to see him on Monday." Creswell stated with an anger that he could not control. "I am going to kick his ass. What the HELL was he thinking?"
"Actually, sir. . .I am not pressing charges at the moment." Mac sighed, as much as she wanted to see Chris get his, there was a logical explanation for things to remain at status quo. "The Commander and I have a job to do. If I press charges I would have to stay here and I will not let him go alone. . . We can deal with it once we get back. . . and I will deal with it."
"If that's what you want, Colonel, fine. . .But I am going to bury him with all I've got in the office." Creswell grinned mischievously, already thinking of the lovely reports that Chris was going to be buried with.
One hour later, the group was still going over the 'mission' as Creswell awaited a call from Andrews about the ETD on the Marine team. In the middle of it all, Harm had wandered off and headed outside. It all was starting to be a bit much for him and the fresh air was helping clear his head. "You shouldn't be out here." Mac's said with a soft voice, hoping not to startle him.
She didn't, because he'd felt her watching him through the windows and knew, immediately, when she had stepped outside. "It's beautiful out tonight, I couldn't resist."
Tentatively, she placed a hand on his back, noting the way he tensed at her touch. With a frown, she remembered the scars, ones that had healed, but were probably still painful. "Do they still hurt? The scars?"
"I think they always will in some way." It wasn't the physical pain, that he knew he could get through, it was the emotional ones that still plagued him. When he closed his eyes, his mind had days of throwing him back into his hell. When would he feel safe in his own skin?
Mac walked next to him, leaning on the railing. "I wish I could take the pain away, Harm. . .I just don't know how to."
He didn't look at her then, only nodded and continued glancing up at the skies. At that particular moment, a shooting star crossed the sky and he couldn't help but wish for their safe passage. It was then he noticed she'd been watching him, with a worried expression. "You can still back out, you know?" It was meant as a suggestion, but he knew very well that she wouldn't leave him alone.
"You know me better than to suggest that." She said with a smirk.
"Since when did you become my caretaker anyway?"
With a grin, she used a line that he'd given her once upon a time. "Well, ah, you save someone's life. . .it makes you responsible for them."
That was one of the things he'd told her nearly four years ago on this very porch. He was surprised she remembered. "You've done more than just save my life, Mac. . . You made it worth living." For the first time since she stepped outside, Harm look at her, really looked at her. His eyes conveyed a message that he couldn't get out with words. "Thank you for believing I was still out there. . ."
She felt that pull between them like steel to a magnet. After everything was right again would they have a chance to explore their relationship? They had no reason not to anymore. As far as Mac was concerned, the jukebox had stopped the music and she was all out of quarters; there would be no more dancing. "I had to, because I. . .Lo. ."
"Commander, Colonel. . . Everything is ready." Bud glanced between them, feeling embarrassed what he just realized he'd interrupted. "I'll. . .uh, tell them you need a few minutes."
Harm chuckled, it was amusing, the interruptions. Amusing but tiresome. "Thanks Bud." He waited for the young Commander to head back inside. They stared at each other, neither wanting to go in just yet. "I know, Mac. . . Believe me, I know." He leaned forward and softly pressed his lips to hers. It wasn't a passionate kiss, but, it was their first true kiss. He wasn't kissing a ghost, she wasn't cheating on her fiancé and there was no mistletoe. It was a real kiss between them; even though a quick one, it hinted at something more.
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Martini – Oooh a threat! YAY! ;) Is this a good way to start? There is some body heat coming up ;) And a little more after that… ;) Just strap on in for the ride
NK – Thanks for dropping by the site! I try my best to keep it up and running all nice and purdy :)
Foxy – LOL! Thanx BTW – Glad to see another chappie in your story! Woo Hoo:)
Charmboy – You know, I also have a one track mind. LOL! It might be coming up. :whistles and points to a spot somewhere round chapter 6 or 7:winks: Got it?
LtJGMeg – Jeez, don't you just hate Webb or what? LOL! Well, here's the thing, Webb needs to spill the beans of what he knows so hopefully they can bring down the baddies. :P Sad that he is needed, huh?
Jtbwriter – A lot of forgiveness going on lately. And in this chappie I gave you more than a kiss on the cheek. ;)
Carby – There will be action scenes, kicking ass scenes and Major Steele may just get his. If not, I'll toss him to you guys. :D
Harmfan – Hey, I am not THAT evil! I need Harm, MAC needs Harm!
Xblue – LOL! Calix has turned eh? Yep, must be my charm or the bribery. Probably the latter. ;)
Tina – Mac usually does have to protect Harm, and vice versa, they tend to be synonymous with trouble. ;)
NG – Oh there will be hot and fiery eventually.
BiteBeccy – But, I gave you the kiss on this part ehehehe. They were in the office on the first part which is why I didn't want them lip smacking.
