AN: Heya! Chappie four is comin' at ya right now, since I got some time to write. It woulda been posted sooner, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to type. Heh... ::smile:: Anyway. Here we go!

Chapter 4: Temptation


1709 Local
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia

Brown eyes watched a tall figure in NAVY dress whites, forgetting about all else in the plain JAG courtroom. He was delivering closing statements, but her ears were deaf to those words, through she probably should have been listening. Eyes followed him intently as the former Naval Pilot crossed the courtroom, coming to the jury and fixing each with his penetrating blue gaze. Luckily, Mac had already given her own before him, because she was struck speechless as he turned those azure eyes on her. He captured the chocolate hues that had been so firmly focused upon him, and a brief smile and wink flashed across his handsome face before he turned to face the judge and room, driving his last words home. They'd been taunting each other all week, and it was visible in fleeting moments to some of the JAG staff that something might be going on. She cleared her throat quietly and took her eyes of him, waiting for the judge to announce the recess.

"We'll reconvene Monday at 0900." He banged the gavel and the court's silence was broken as a low chatter broke out while Harm and Mac rose, collecting their papers and clicking shut their briefcases. She smiled as they turned to exit the courtroom at the same time, walking down the aisle side by side.

"Had enough humiliation for one day, Flyboy?" Harm gave a wry laugh, smiling slightly himself. Harm had watched helplessly – though no without admiration – as Mac drilled his witnesses on cross-examinations.

"Let's just let the jury decide, alright?" They went to their respective offices, and met each other once more at the elevator; Harm squeezing in at the last moment after Mac held the doors.

"Thanks, Mac." She chanced a glance to her left where Harm always seemed to be. He was leaning against the wall, obviously tired from the week's work. Of course, everything had been running too smoothly and Fate decided to throw a wrench in their evening plans. Somewhere between the first and second floors the elevator just shut down. It wasn't a smooth stop either, the metal box jerking and rattling, causing the senior officers to look at each other before dropping their briefcases and begin banging on the elevator doors, screaming for help.

"It would have to be the hottest fall day on record in DC," Harm said, sitting on the floor and unbuttoning his NAVY shirt a little bit. Mac sighed and resigned herself to learning against the cool metal doors. "So, you been keepin' score?"

"Nine to four, Flyboy, and I'm pullin' away." They'd started a saucy and bold game which was out of character for the usually responsible adults, but refreshing, and Mac, always the perfect calculator, had appointed herself the scorekeeper.

"Well look out, Colonel," Harm said, "cause here I come with a grand slam." He picked himself up off the floor and advanced, and Mac didn't have her office to escape to this time. She was already hot but when Harm pinned her to the wall, well...she was burning up in that dark Marines uniform - in more ways than one! (AN: ::wink wink:: ) The tension hung thick as the silence of a second stretched on, only their breathing could be heard. Even that seemed to stop as the anxiety grew and suspense built up, one moment lasting an eternity while their eyes were locked. Neither wanted to yield; to succumb to the other's charm, rousing remarks, enticing body movements or seductive and powerful smiles. The temptation was awful. Just as Mac was about to throw herself on the man, the unreliable elevator suddenly shook into life and the two jumped apart into to keep suspicion at bay.

"I think that'll make it ten to four. I win."

"I'll get you next week, Mac. You just wait!"