Title : When You're Ready...
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you.
Rating : G to PG-13 (Just in case!)
To all the readers/reviewers shown – thanks for the support, and please keep reading!
cbw; cool cat; froggy0319; Lisa Brown; ryne'smom; anna7; harmsgirl-03; Dana; suz573; Grace; jaggurl; Nikki; Kirsty; kirsten; ss; Arian04; GuitarVixen; iammusic; JennaTripped; JagFan; starryeyes10; Kavi Leighanna; SarahRabb705; BrokenSkye; NavyCB; SailorGirl; moe; katydid13; serendipity112233; Dreamer20715; jtbwriter; joanoa; FoxyWombat; chawkchic
Here are some comments to reviews I have received : I couldn't have 'Ms Montes' making her move on Harm when he and Mac are doing so well, no could I? :o) With regard to 'Grams', I've only heard about Harm's grandmother in early episode references, and in other fanfics, so I've opted to leave her out of my stories, but from what I have heard, she could definitely deal with Harm just as well as Mac would! :o) I've tried to write a chapter ahead of the episode, but it didn't work out – I was way off target, and it didn't follow my idea, so I've scrapped that and I'm sticking to the actual episodes. If it means waiting a week (or two!) due to network timings, I can only apologize, but I'm sure you will forgive me for wanting to keep to my plot! :o) Minor correction here... Mac and Harm have 'romped' (nicely put!), but it was in the second chapter. First chapter they spent the night together, but only on a platonic basis, mainly talking. :o)
What could have happened after the end of Whole New Ballgame...
JAG Headquarters
Following his promotion and appointment as the Judge Advocate General, Marine General Gordon M Cresswell took his seat behind the large desk and surveyed his new surroundings. Placing his name plate on the front of the desk, he crossed his hands on the desk, and allowed the faintest of quirks on his lips. This was going to be a very interesting appointment.
Harm's Apartment – North of Union Station
Mac pushed open the door to Harm's apartment, dropped her purse and briefcase on the floor and draped her coat over the nearby chair before heading for the couch and falling back against the leather. As she rested her head back against the cool material, closing her eyes in exhaustion, she felt a hand run along her forehead.
"Busy day, huh?" murmured Harm, and Mac smiled first before opening her eyes to look up at him.
They had both just returned from their investigation on board the USS Henessey, but for the sake of appearances they had left the base separately in their own cars, having previously agreed to stay at Harm's place that night.
"Kinda, but it's suddenly got a whole lot more interesting, Sailor. If you keep up this massage, I'll return the favor later."
Harm laughed and climbed in behind Mac, her head then resting on the wall of his chest as he brought his hands up to massage her face and scalp, and moved down to her shoulders. There were no words for a while, just the soft murmurs from Mac as she savored Harm's actions. When she felt more relaxed she turned her head up so she could see Harm's face.
"I'm scared, Harm."
"Of what?" Harm didn't give any platitudes. He knew the announcement of a new JAG had spooked Mac, and although she had told him part of the reason on board USS Hennessey he knew there was more to her concerns about her future. Having been told by Bud that Cresswell had 'sunk' his chances, that at least should have settled Mac.
"Whoever gets picked for the position of JAG, things are going to change. We could still be separated; sent to different billets. We've only just got our lives together. I..."
Harm moved so that he was facing Mac, and he took her face in his hands, his thumbs caressing her cheeks.
"Whatever happens from here on out, whoever gets appointed JAG, you and I are not going to be separated. If either of us were to be billeted elsewhere, I'd resign."
"What?" Mac sat up, a shocked look on her face. Harm placed a finger on her lips as she made to protest.
"If we get to stay where we are, partnered, we can continue as we are for a while, but eventually things are going to change anyway. I'm not willing to give up what we have now, and if that means moving out of JAG, I have no problems with that. While I'm happy to keep our relationship quiet right now, that isn't going to last. I want to shout from the rooftops that I love you, Sarah Mackenzie."
Mac grinned, and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes as she looked at Harm.
"I love you, too, Harm. If there's room on those rooftops, I'll join you..."
"You're ready to do that?" Harm asked softly, and Mac nodded.
"I'm ready," she confirmed with a nod of her head, and Harm leaned forward, content to just place his lips against hers before desire overcame them both and the kiss intensified. Neither knew who made the first move, but both knew they wanted the closeness as arms closed around bodies, and they slid down the couch until Mac was pillowed against Harm's length. When they eventually parted for want of air, Mac glanced at her new placement atop Harm's body. With a sultry smile she looked along the length of his body and then back into his ocean-colored eyes.
"Looks like I've got you exactly where I want you, Sailor," she murmured.
"So, Marine, what do you plan on doing with me?" Harm rejoined, his own voice low and husky, and its very sound was enough to turn Mac's knees to jelly. Clearing her throat to give her time to find her voice, she managed to sound pretty confident when she answered.
"Well, I do recall offering you a massage a little while ago," Mac murmured, dropping a soft kiss on Harm's lips, but pulling back before he could take it further. With a groan at her action, Harm tried another tactic to divert her attention back to him. Mac's face showed surprise initially as she felt another part of his body trying to attract her attention...
"No fair, Rabb," she giggled, wriggling against him nonetheless which caused an entirely different groan to leave his lips. "We need to eat, and I thought maybe you'd want to invite Mattie and Jen over, since we've been away..." Mac trailed off, closing her eyes as Harm's tongue found the spot on her neck just below her ear.
"Mattie's out at practice, and Jen's picking her up later. I told her to knock on the door when they get back. We can see them both then. In the meantime..." Harm stopped talking as his lips settled on the spot his tongue had found minutes before.
Mac sighed, and felt her body literally turn to mush as Harm continued on his journey down her neck. It took a few seconds for her to focus when she felt him lift his head. Looking into his eyes she saw the love there, and the hint of arrogance that was as much a part of him as he was a part of her.
"We'll get through this change, Mac. Let's just wait and see who is put in charge, and give them some time to settle in. Just remember that no matter what, you and I are going to be okay. Okay?" Harm's quirky question at the end of his words served to make Mac laugh, and she nodded. However, at the very moment Harm returned to his ministrations, Mac's stomach growled. With a gurgle of laughter she pushed up on his shoulders and looked down at him.
"Sorry, but unless you feed me we aren't going to get any peace..."
"This is probably pathetic, but I actually feel jealous of a rumbling stomach. I thought you were hungry for me." Harm made a pout and his voice sounded petulant, which made Mac laugh harder, and then she relented slightly and lowered herself against him once more.
"I am hungry for you, Harm, and I'll make up for this interruption as soon as you've fed me."
"I'll hold you to that, Mac," Harm retorted, and with a brief hard kiss he pushed them both up off the couch. Mac followed him into the kitchen area, her hands resting on his hips as she peeked over his shoulder to see what he was searching for in the way of food.
Mattie and Jen arrived just as they were finishing up the pasta, and the four of them settled around to drink some hot chocolate before Mattie hid a yawn behind her hand and Jen followed suit. Excusing themselves with hugs and more yawns, the two younger women returned to their apartment, amidst stifled gleeful laughter as they left the two 'oldies' to make out. Harm closed the door as they left, and he heard their laughter down the corridor. Smiling to himself he turned back to find Mac stood in front of him.
"What's so funny?" she asked, snaking her arms around his neck as she looked up at him.
"The two of them are howling with laughter at the 'two oldies making out'. I think they mean you and me."
"I think they'd be surprised at how well we two 'oldies' make out, hm?" Mac murmured, and then squealed as Harm bent slightly to place his hands around her butt and lift her up against him. Mac raised her legs and wrapped them around his hips.
As their laughter came together in a kiss, Harm headed for the bedroom. Mac pointed somewhere behind her at the couch, as it was nearer, but Harm shook his head, managing to mutter that he was now nearer to the bed, so Mac nodded happily and hung on tightly.
The last words heard were from Harm as he kissed Mac and murmured huskily that she tasted 'chocolatey'. Whatever Mac's response was, it was lost in the kiss she gave Harm. One of many...
To be continued
BTW – I think the new JAG is going to work out just great. He's a bit like AJ, and doesn't take any junk from the SecNav. Way to go! Jaggie
