AN: Whee! A bit of this just popped out of nowhere, and it became a full fledged fluff piece! Aren't yall happy? I wasn't even talking about this when I said it was off of hiatus - I still have at least a couple ideas ready. But I guess my well of shipperness IS back. :happy dances: wOOt. On with the show.

Spoiler/Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Pappa's restaurants. If I did, I would be spending the money they make every year trying to buy JAG and get better HM shipperful writers. If you don't know what Pappasito's is, you're horribly deprived; it's part of the Pappa's chain, the mexican food part. I don't even know how big Falls Church is, let alone if they have a Pappasito's. Bear with me, please. I live in Texas, we got 'em here. Gimme a break, yall.

Chapter 5: Only Him


1234 Local
Pappasito's
Falls Church, Virginia

They'd set a lunch date - not for working, just for relaxing. It actually turned out pleasant. They laughed, ate, chatted. Smooth and relaxed, not awkward and tense as things had been only a few months ago. Everything was fine until Harm started getting pretty quiet. He would nod or shake his head to questions, but offer a shrug to opinions. He called the waiter for the check before putting his hand on his face as he used to do; thumb along the jaw line, pointer on the cheek and the other fingers curled in front of his mouth. She cleared her throat and stood out of her seat, and he did the same, but continued to look at her. For some reason that she -claimed- she couldn't explain, his sea-colored hues held so much in them that she couldn't bear to meet them. Turning her eyes to the ground, she fiddled with her Marine's cap clasped between her hands. (They'd left from JAG in their cars and met at the restaurant, both still obviously in uniform.)

/Oh come ON Marine. You can't even look at the man? How pathetic is this? Alright, deep breath, make eye contact. His eyes have been boring into me since this silence - which is oddly enough not too uncomfortable - started. Just say what's on your mind./

"Harm?" She looked up from an interesting spot on the floor that she had been studying for quite some time as he observed her in silence. His blue eyes were still focused upon her when she raised those brown hues.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?" He seemed innocent enough, but she knew his looks could be deceiving.

"Like you..you..."

"What?" He stepped a little closer, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Like you want to kiss me," she blurted out, before she could think of anything else to say in its place.

/Because I know that you don't want to. Maybe I'm just crazy./

"That's because I do," he responded calmly. He put his hands on his hips in the non-feminine Harm way and waited for Mac to recover from shock. It took about thirty seconds for her brain to start working on a comeback, and a full minute for her mouth to work out the words.

/What the... He? Wants? To? Kiss? ME?/

"Well if I'm so damn irresistible, then why aren't you all over me?" She arched an eyebrow, daring him to respond. Her lips were twitching as she tried to fend off a smirk.

/Ha. I won, Squid. Knew you were lying.../ Mac's thought was interrupted and quickly faded as Harm's eyes slid halfway closed and he leaned in close, his body brushing casually up against hers and his face so close that she felt his warm breath tickle her lips.

"Because it's -unfortunately- against regs to fraternize with a senior officer, Colonel." It was one of the few times he actually acknowledged the fact that she outranked him without her having to remind him. Mac's breath caught in her chest and she felt lightheaded; dizzy and exhilarated at the same time. "I guess I'll meet you back at JAG then, Sarah." He put a sexy undertone emphasis on her name, that husky playfulness she longed to hear. An involuntary shudder went through her when he passed, a waft of his familiar scent of aftershave and something a little spicy that was distinctly Harm breezing by her. She was frozen for a few minutes, standing by their table. She might've looked like a complete idiot, but she could care less. When she finally regained control of her limbs, she almost melted when his words echoed in her mind. It was almost as if he said "I love you"...well, maybe not, but pretty damn close! Only when she was picking up her things did she find something that may not have ruined the moment, but dampened it only slightly, even making her laugh.

"Only my Flyboy could make me shiver with lust and still leave me footing the bill." She could only smile at the thought of him while putting the money down on the table and walking out.

/Only him./


AN: wOOt! So what didja think? I'm BAAAAAAAAAAACK! Leave some reviews, I missed you guys!