AN: Heya guys! Just a little note, since I've been receiving some (NOT A LOT, mind you, SOME .glare.) and I wanted to just let my readers know: I'd NEVER give upon Harm and Mac; not for anything ever. Because no matter how it ends, there will STILL be fanfiction, and fanfiction for a reason. Go back to the golden oldies of seasons 2-5! Don't forget about the beginnings, and make your OWN ends.
Now that my sappy pep-talk moment is over, let's get back to the fluff, shall we?
Chapter 6: Copy Machine
1422 Local
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Mac knocked on the door to the conference room lightly before opening the door a crack. She had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing at the sight in front of her. Harm was looking more frazzled than ever; his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up and suit jacket slung haphazardly over the back of one of the many chairs lining the paper-strewn table. He seemed to be admitting defeat though; he sighed in frustration and fell into a leather seat, putting his head down on his arms.
/He read my mind! I would be mad at him for taking my idea (of using this quiet room as a place to spread out and work), but since I am about thirty minutes away from winning the case we've been arguing all week, I'll cut him some slack. Besides/ she entered slowly, closing the heavy door with a light click that didn't disturb the Commander, /he looks cute all pathetic and beaten like that./ Sliding into a chair across the table from him silently, she leaned back, setting her small stack of files down. Crossing her legs, she toned down the victorious smile to a smug smirk and then cleared her throat. The straight face was nearly lost when Harm jumped about three feet out of his chair, spouting nonsense.
"My Article 32 reserves the right to badger the witness your Admiral!"
"Cracking under the pressure, Flyboy?" One eyebrow arched and the Colonel's lips twitched, a smile threatening to break through.
"Mac, don't DO that!" Sighing, Harm closed his tired blue eyes again, dropping his head into waiting hands that roved over his almost stubbly cheeks, trying to rub away his stress. Mac allowed him a moment, her brown eyes inspecting instead her perfectly manicured nails on one hand. She was absently spinning the Marine ring around a finger when he spoke again, looking up at her with bleary cobalt hues.
"So, you here to mock me or gloat?"
"Neither. I'm mad at you."
"Mad at me? Ha!" His eyebrows rose to his hairline and the first smile she had seen out of him all week flashed at her. "Oh, I have GOT to hear this one."
"Well, you stole my idea," Mac's lips poofed out a little bit in a small pout, and Harm had to stand up and look away from her plump mouth - it was too damn tempting not to kiss and have his way with her right then and there. He could just see the Admiral walking in on them, defiling NAVY property...he shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts; they would be saved for later. (.grin.) "Of using this room to plan in, though I guess all you're doing is trying to figure out how to save your sorry client's six." Harm couldn't help but throw a glare in her direction before he started shuffling papers together, cleaning up his mess. Mac helped a little, closing and stacking various books. It took her a moment to think of why he was pulling his uniform together.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to get some copies!" He'd found one little bit of evidence that just might keep the accused sailor out of the brig. He left the books and most of his things as they were, but picked up one manila folder and tucked it under his arm. He was halfway to the door when he heard Mac's quick steps and saw her breeze past him.
"No, you're not." He stopped mid-stride and stared at her as she put a shoulder against the door, glancing back at him. She stopped as well when he spoke.
"Yes, I am. I NEED this, Mac."
"Well that's too damn bad, now isn't it Squid? 'Cause I've got all this to sort through!" With a rather evil grin she indicated her small load and slid outside. Harm grinned back, pushing the door open with a hand. His smile faded when he heard the elevator ding, signaling the closing doors. Mac waved goodbye and couldn't help the smirk curling her lips.
/It's like she read my mind/ he thought, watching her disappear.
"Oh no you don't, Jarhead." Harm looked around, then spied the stairwell. Taking the steps two at a time he reached the bullpen's level and slowed down, fixing a medal that was jarred out of place by his rapid descent. He casually walked into the bustling headquarters, a spring added to his step when Mac was twenty paces behind him and Harriet was collecting her papers from the printing end of the machine. He looked over his shoulder at her surprised face and grinned at her, the Flyboy smile peeking through. She sped up, power walking her way through the pen to reach Harm about two steps from the office appliance.
"You're gonna have to be faster than that, Stickboy!"
"You're not gonna beat me!" Their smiling faces were focused on each other as their gait was quickened, only to bump into the backside of Lt. Roberts. The gray-haired father looked up, addressing each senior officer cordially.
"Hello ma'am, sir."
"Oh, Bud we're so sorry," Mac's cheeks flushed with pink and she shifted the small weight of papers onto one side, the free hand tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, Bud, sorry about that." Harm fiddled with a button on his jacket, observing the HUGE load of books and papers that the junior officer had stacked on a small cart. "You, uh, you using the copier?"
"Well, I had just started re-copying these files for Ensign Sims, but if you'd like to take seniority on this, then..."
"No, it's okay." Harm and Mac's slightly dejected voices sounded at the same time, cutting him off. Bud smiled at the both of them.
"Thank you, ma'am, sir. Sometimes it's like you can read each other's minds!" He turned around and continued his photocopying work, leaving the Commander and the Colonel to retreat to their respective offices.
The two shared a long look across the bullpen from their desks, blue meeting brown in a steady (and slightly mischievous) gaze. It seems that there was something more to that race than meets the eye.
AN: Whew. Another chapter done! Don't worry guys, there's still plenty more where this came from! Next chapter: ...well, if I told you, it would kinda ruin it, huh? So, I'll just keep quiet. .zips mouth; muffled. Don't forget to leave a review:D
