Title: Interlude II
Author: Nan
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em – wish I did.
Spoilers: Missing Scene 'Fair Winds and Following Seas.' This starts up several hours after the end. The coin has been tossed and we are already at the last hour of Harm's declared 12 hour deadline.
Note: Thanks for the positive reviews - love'd em all. Highplainswoman; by Interlude II; I am forced to define a timeline for FWAFS (something TPTB managed to evade in the show). So let's imagine that Harm's plane for England leaves just before midnight. This means when he mentioned the 12 hour deadlinein his apartment; it was around noon. Since everyone (except possibly the general) were in their Class A's (telling me that they came directly from work)- I assume that they met at McMurphy's around 6pm; did the coin toss; partied for a while; then left for Dulles around 9.30pm. That means whatever hanky panky went on in Harm's apartment; it took about four or five hours.
What was the general wearing? Not sure but it didn't seem like he had his uniform under that regulation jacket to me. Seemed like just a T shirt. But what do I know? Perhaps Coates interrupted the man while he was at the gym boxing with the marines?
In military speak, it was 2217. The food concourse at Washington Dulles Airport was deserted except for a dark-haired man in formal naval mess dress and a woman in eye catching red. Two non-fat, tall lattes stood between them on the table, inside the circle created by their outstretched arms and interlaced fingers.
"You realize that your last official case at Falls Church, you lost to Bud?" Mac was teasing him.
"I didn't lose, Vukovic lost," said Harm. He was watching her smile. Funny, how the last couple of hours, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her. Was he imagining it or did she seem more beautiful than ever?
"Vukovic, smukovic. Face it Harm, Bud out maneuvered both of you."
"Yeah, well, Slick Vic still needs to learn a thing or two. Like when to follow through on evidence."
"Our young lieutenant managed to put one by you, didn't he Captain?" said Mac, emphasizing his new military title.
"End of discussion." He tried to glare menacing at her and failed.
There was silence. Then, "When do you have to go?" Mac looked out the window at the line-up of oversized jets tethered to the terminal by their elevated gates.
"Flight starts boarding in twenty minutes. I still have security to go through. But it won't take long." Harm was silent for a minute. It was hard to gauge what she was thinking. "Do you regret the outcome?" He was referring to the coin toss that took place two hours ago at McMurphys.
"Nothing's changed yet," said Mac. "Who knows? Cresswell said there might be a third choice."
"We are going to go through with it, no matter what?" Harm searched her face for any doubt.
"We almost gave the general a heart attack for minute, back in McMurphy's." Mac tried to smile but failed. "He thought one of us was quitting on the spot."
"Giving him six months notice seemed only fair no matter what result. Gives him time to fill the position," Harm said.
"Nobody's irreplaceable," said Mac, a little sadly.
"Absolutely," said Harm firmly. "Just think how happy we made Sturgis. When's your flight to San Diego?"
"Next week."
"Tell me again how you managed to escape the 72 hour deadline?" asked Harm.
"Think about it Harm," said Mac. "This joint services thing is a brand new command. Staff yet to be in place. Nada people in San Diego yet. Except Graves, maybe. But you - Force Judge Advocate in England is an established office. They're expecting you, sailor. Yesterday."
"No one for you to command just yet, huh? I know a remedy to that," said Harm. "I like it when you're on top." He smiled suggestively, trying to get her to smile once more before he left. Instead a cloud passed over her face.
"Did I actually say that?" said Mac ashamed. "I'm so sorry."
"There will be no 'sorries' tonight. Okay? Besides, there was a certain amount of truth to the statement." Harm paused again for a moment. They both thought about a certain taxi stand by a hotel in Paraguay. "Can I ask you a favor?"
"Let me guess – Mattie?"
"Yes…'
Mac interrupted. "I thought I might go to Blacksburg tomorrow. Mattie might enjoy the company and I really ought to know the other woman in my fiancé's life a little better."
"Fiancé, I like the sound of that," said Harm. ."Does this mean its official, Mac?"
"Yes."
"Our little game with fate. The coin toss, everything."
"I want to be with you."
"I want to be with you. Not halfway around the world." reaffirmed Harm.
"Me too."
"Mattie's really excited about the news," said Harm.
"Was she surprised?" she asked.
"Less than you might think. My goal now is to have her mobile by our wedding. I want her to walk down the aisle with me."
"Or how about with me? I was thinking she would make a beautiful bridesmaid. Along with Chloe, of course. When's that going to be, by the way?"
"The doctors are talking optimistically right now. Although there may be permanent damage; with therapy and treatment, walking is a reasonable goal. They mentioned three months."
"Fall, then," said Mac.
"Fall," agreed Harm.
"How about September? Where?" asked Mac.
"Where what?"
"Our proposed nuptials."
"You're the bride – shouldn't that be your decision?" Harm's long fingers were fiddling with hers.
"Annapolis?" said Mac.
"How about a hillside in Afghanistan surrounded by goats?" countered Harm. "I know a great one. Cosy at night, if I recall."
"If you don't take into account falling missiles," said Mac. "I'm trying to be serious here."
"I am being serious. How about Siberia with a band of gypsies?"
"How about by the catapult on the deck of an aircraft carrier?" said Mac, brown eyes matching the twinkle in his blue ones.
"Now you're talking."
"How about Annapolis in the fall surrounded by friends and family?" Mac was unmoved by his best attempt at a flyboy grin.
"How about at the main flag pole on the parade field at Quantico?" Harm suggested. "That would make the General happy."
"Annapolis it is. Last weekend in September." Mac said in her marine drill sergeant voice that stopped any further comment.
"Yes, ma'am," said Harm. "Mac? One more thing."
"Now what?" said Mac.
"Contrary to what you and that bartender at McMurphy's might think, I do have a ring." Harm reached into his pocket and brought out a battered ring box.
Mac's eye's lit up. "What happened to the box?"
"I'll tell you later. Just open it."
Mac delicately reached out and plucked the box from his palm. She opened it carefully. Inside was a simple gold ring with a mounted diamond solitaire surrounded by two smaller stones. She smiled, wide-eyed and looked at him questioningly.
"Don't worry. Diamonds are from the Canadian Arctic. Non-conflict stones. Guaranteed. No diamond drama here," Harm said quietly.
"I'm glad," said Mac thinking about Admiral Chegwidden, the Naval Research Lab and the CIA.
"It's a polar bear with two cubs."
"A polar bear?" quizzed Mac.
"Yeah, the diamond has a little polar bear etched on the girdle."
"Where? I can't see it," teased Mac. She held up the ring to the light.
"Of course you can't. It's microscopic. But you knew that. If you don't like it, just say so. We'll get something you like."
"Don't you dare get something else - I love it." Mac slipped it on her left ring finger and held out her hand. "Okay, Harm. Fess up. You haven't had time to change your clothes never mind buy a diamond. Where did this come from?"
"I bought it two years ago this May."
Mac looked carefully at the ring and the box. The box looked like it had been squished. Like it had been in some sort of accident. Suddenly, she realized what sort of accident. A plane accident.
"Paraguay," she said and tears sprang to her eyes, "Why didn't you say something?"
"Well, lets see – maybe it was male pride, stupidity or Clay? Take your pick."
"I'll share in that stupidity, if you don't mind. It took me three months of unanswered phone messages while you were flying for the CIA to force me to admit I'd acted pretty horribly towards the man who single handedly saved my life."
"Most events would have never happened if I had just stated how I felt."
"Maybe. Or not. Perspective took me a while to gain. But that is now all in the past, right?" Mac looked at him with imploring eyes.
Harm's heart started to break. In less than five minutes, he would need to leave. There was so much he wanted to say to her. So many things that had to be talked out. Separation might change her perspective, once again. Email and telephones were no substitute to holding her, watching her and feeling her reactions. September might as well be forever.
He took her left hand with the shiny new ring and held it up between them. "See this? This is how I felt then. Always will feel. For me, there has only been you. Are you going to remember that?"
Mac countered his serious look with one of her own. Her eyes started to tear up. She said in a shaky voice. "Will you? After all, sailor, all the changes are going to be on your side. The result was tails."
"My idea, remember? My parents, Miramar – there are a lot of advantages to San Diego. Who knows, maybe a lucrative little law practice so we can afford a house on the beach."
"Then why do I feel so crummy?" said Mac, looking away.
"Suck it up, marine. That was an equal opportunity coin flip. We both knew the odds going in."
"I should have known tails would come up. It always comes up," she said quietly. "I feel like running from this whole idea. And you."
It was probably the most honest statement she had ever made to him.
"Don't you dare," he said. She had issues with worthiness that stemmed from her childhood.
"I love you," she said. "But loving me…"
"Is the best thing that ever happened to me," he finished.
They sat a moment; just holding hands. Mac broke the silence. "It's 2243. You have to go. I'll walk you to security."
They stood up together. Harm wrapped his arms around her. The tapping of her heels on the tiled floor was the only sound as they walked toward the gate.
Fin
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